Monday, September 27, 2021

JUST GOOGLE IT !

     The word “Google,” is no longer just a noun. It is also, for the last couple decades, a verb. To “Google,” something is to look it up on the internet, even if you’re using an alternate search engine such as Bing, Firefox, Yahoo or many of the other alternatives.

     I belong to gardening groups, log cabin aficionados, cooking circles, book clubs and history pages on Facebook. Many times, just like I do, people go to these groups and ask questions having something to do with topics of interest to other members. It’s not that people cannot do their own research. It’s so easy to surf the web. Within moments you have more knowledge before your eyes than any local library could have offered you even as recently as the 1990s.

     Yet, you have Jennifer and Jason, in their thirties, asking, “What are these little green insects all over my bushes and how can I get rid of them?” I mean, come on, they as children of the 1980s clearly grew up with technology from the day Grandma and Grandpa gave Jason his first Teddy Ruxpin and Dad gave Jen a Gameboy.

     I’ll tell you three reasons why they are reaching out: A. Just like you, they are in your Facebook gardening group called Roses for the People, B. their mothers were too busy at work to garden and show them the way, and C. they are wary of “Googling,” because in the past when Jason did a search about a pearl necklace that Jennifer really wanted, one that looked just like her grandmother’s, let’s just say, image search was not their friend. (There are some things that Jason can NOT unsee.) Likewise, Jennifer did a search about health care options and had to wade through legitimate looking sites that were actually sponsored, selling the equivalent of modern-day snake oil. Next weekend, when they have time, Jennifer and Jason might do an internet search together on driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains for their eighth anniversary, but right now they need to find out what kind of creepy crawlies are sucking the life out of their newly planted rose bushes.

     On Facebook the JaJen Johnsmith profile asks about the insects. A few people offer help suggesting sprays, powders or ladybugs. Without fail in the time it takes to scroll on by, some knuckle-dragging troll will type, “Why don’t you just use Google?” Yes, why? Because Jennifer and Jason share the love that everyone else in the group has for roses. They don’t need some revolutionary, new, expensive powder that a sponsored ad insists they must buy within the next five minutes before the two-for-one sale ends, and so on. They want to know what works for you and your bushes. They don’t want to have to try each and every product, watch each and every video and testimonial. They have work in the morning. Someone in their group can help them with experience and wisdom. Jennifer can purchase the recommended clippers and a carton of lady bugs on her way home from work. Their bushes will grow better, yield more roses and they’ll make friends with other helpful people who love to garden.

     In the meantime, Mr. Justin Googlyte made a few enemies and left the conversation with a big announcement. Within the hour he’s banned from posting, group members are breathing easier and getting on with their gardening.

     That, my friends, is why many people won’t JUST GOOGLE IT!



                                       Artwork by the author, Liesa Swejkoski (1985)

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Women's History Month - Focusing on Emma Hale Smith and the Relief Society

    

                                                       Image via Carole Maguire

    

     Is it merely a coincidence that Women's History Month coincides with the creation of the Relief Society in March of 1842? Maybe so, but let me tell you about one of my heroes, Emma Hale Smith, founder of the organization.

     Emma Hale Smith was the creator of the Relief Society, one of the world's oldest and largest organizations of women. Founded in New York State, it has been in continuous operation since March 17, 1842. Emma was the gathering's first president, and its very first meeting, she predicted to all present they were about to do something extraordinary. This week in my studies regarding Emma, I found this quote by her mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, “She has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty-she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman.” What did this mean, exactly?

     Many people reading Lucy Mack Smith's words, if they are unfamiliar with seafarers and their lore, might not understand the depth of admiration that this mother-in-law felt for her son's wife. They might not have grasped the many layers of meaning in the above quote if not for for the history I'm about to share.

     According to the research done by many historians and maritime aficionados like Debra Ronca, sailors tend to be more superstitious than the rest of us. The long list of nautical legends, folklore and superstitions may seem odd to us landlubbers, but when your profession exposes you to the elements and uncontrollable natural disasters, you're better safe than sorry. Good luck charms and omens of bad luck pertaining to sailing, boats and sailors have endured for centuries. Just two of these false beliefs are that a sea voyage which starts on a Friday is doomed, or whistling on a boat will conjure up a storm. One old nautical superstition held that women on ships or boats were very bad luck. Women were historically forbidden from sailing on military vessels or merchant ships because captains believed their presence would anger the sea gods who would cause rough waves and violent weather. (An alternate explanation might have been that bringing a woman on an extended sea voyage could be extremely "distracting" to the all-male crew — and probably cause problems for the woman as well. A distracted or jealous crew is an unsafe crew.)

     Yet, although sailors believed a woman on board would anger the sea gods, they also believed a bare-chested woman calmed the seas. A topless woman would "shame" nature into suppressing its anger. This is why you still see bare breasted female figureheads with their blouses wide open on the prows of boats and ships. (From “Why Were Women on Ships Considered Bad Luck?” by Debra Ronca)

     A fictionalized account of these unfounded, traditional fears can be found in the well-researched book Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (published 1993). The scenes themselves seemingly come to life on the televised Outlander series whose third season was based upon this novel. Another example of sailors’ traditions is demonstrated when, to ward off misfortune, the sailors of the Artemis must touch a horseshoe placed in a prominent position on deck. Regarding that horseshoe, everyone had to rub it before embarking on their journey. With the Artemis already underway, the strong-willed protagonist of the series, Claire, who has not as yet caressed the object, wishes to placate the seafaring men by making an obligatory touch of the metal shoe. Captain Raines says, "Too late for that. It must be done at the beginning of a voyage." She is quickly instructed on many of the traditions that ward off bad omens and sea demons and is told that during the voyage, women should be baring their breasts so that the sea-gods will perhaps show mercy upon the crew.

     Lucy Mack Smith was poetic and at the same time sincere in her praise of Emma. Her daughter-in-law was there as a beacon of prayer and mercy - a bit of a bad omen to tradition - who had weathered fierce storms of disease and persecution.

     Who was Emma Hale Smith, beyond her creation of an enduring world-wide sisterhood?? Most notably, her name is associated with her husband Joseph Smith Junior, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She had an active role in Church proceedings and advisement. Her discouragement of men spitting their tobacco onto her floors led to a health code called the Word of Wisdom. Decades later, many people such as the Kellogg Brothers took an interest in health codes and practices similar to the Word of Wisdom. Shortly afterward, physicians embraced the consumption of healthy food alongside the abstinence of hard liquors and tobacco.

     Emma was also a scribe to her husband at a time when many men, but women especially, could not read or write. (This was in a time before organized Women’s Liberation or the Suffragette movement.) Women did not advise their husbands in their religious callings let alone preach on the pulpit or transcribe sermons. The Relief Society was the beginning of something big, a movement with momentous repercussions.

     Many times, Emma witnessed the horrifying burns and injuries that her husband endured at the hands of angry villagers. She suffered the loss of several children, one notably after its birth. A chill wind blew into the room in which her infant’s cradle was kept after a door was left open during a home invasion. Local mobs, incensed by their hate, strove to pour hot tar on Joseph, and then cover his body in feathers. They burst in as he was singing to and cradling the child in his arms. Stories are told of removing such a mess from human skin. It could take a day, maybe two leaving tears, welts and open sores. Emma not only had to tend to her injured husband by peeling the tar from his raw skin, but comfort a sick and dying baby.

     Some people in this world would have considered it bordering on evil at the most, maybe poor judgment at the least, for Emma to be outspoken in the church, well educated, and by her husband’s side, through all the turmoil that came her way. Ultimately her husband was martyred. Perhaps more mercy could have been shown to Emma and her family by people inside and out of the church. Maybe mercy was shown more than we can imagine, as at one point the mob came to castrate Smith. Ultimately, through the storms that came Emma’s way: death, escape, polygamy, moving every several years from state to state, sacrifice and widowhood – this great woman’s prayers for mercy bared her very soul. She was a blessing and an example to the women of her time, and mine as well.

     Emma Hale Smith is one who endured.  She leads my personal vessel as a woman of strength, patience and prayer. Lucy Mack Smith’s words were an eloquent summary of Emma, whose countenance is carved in my heart; Emma Hale Smith leads the way as the woman I honor this Woman’s History Month.


Sunday, February 28, 2021

Creating the Great American Fondue Pot While Counting and Measuring the Ingredients.

  


        Several days ago, I posted the above meme on my Facebook author page. By posting it, I wanted to see how many people were triggered by the words Arabic or forced. Just I as anticipated, I got some very interesting responses from some very appalled readers.

 

    Please, allow me to let you in on a little something I learned DECADES ago: Arabic numerals. They are the basic numbers that all of us used, learning how to count and do mathematics, beginning in pre-school and grade school. They are what we all used when counting for teams in gym class.  I for one felt forced to use them as a small child. For that matter, I felt like school was a prison until I reached seventh grade. I am grateful for Arabic numerals over the Roman numeral system.

 

     Until 1968 I was raised with Lebanese-American and Arab-American neighbors and friends - Christians- not Muslims as some of the neighbors I lived close to in later years assumed all people of Arabic descent must be. Thereafter, at least once a month, we'd visit an Arabic - American woman that prepared the most scrumptious lamb served in pita bread. Once a week, as a toddler, I faithfully watched a Lebanese - American woman as she graced the screen of my television: Marlo Thomas in That Girl on Detroit’s own ABC channel 7. (I wanted to be her and yes, I remember the sixties.) Her father, Danny Thomas, produced among other programs, a very iconic, very All-American classic: The Andy Griffith Show.

 

     I have Japanese-American sisters, a German born mother who obtained her citizenship before I was born, and had Mexican-American neighbors. My dad told me the history of traditionally African-American foods and although I am not African-American, those are my favorite foods. I can cook hot-wings and ribs and banana pudding - oh my!!! (In Detroit those dishes were called "soul food" but my family just called it Southern cooking.) I also enjoy making traditionally Mexican-American recipes such as tacos and fajitas. I make a great pico degallo also known as salsa fresca.

 

     Back to math, what is the common denominator in the nationalities I just mentioned above? "AMERICAN". When my family enjoyed all these wonderful friends, neighbors, relatives and their food, and by extension their cultures, we were not appropriating. We were appreciating. Somehow we all got along. Then about fifteen years ago, so-called do-gooders "doing good" came along and accused we-the-neighbors (AMERICANS) of culture appropriation. I guess divide and conquer is the mantra of their wrinkled souls. Please, for the sake of all that is Holy - DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!

 

     I choose to love, eat, pray and visit. If you do as well, ignore those that spew hate and divisiveness and just choose LOVE. Let's share a park bench, and a bagel sometime.

 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_numerals

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