HOW MANY ENGLISH WORDS ARE NOTHING BUT A MIRROR OF
MATERIALISM AND MALE-DOMINATED SOCIETY
Namaskar,
As an ideal, our Marga is a microcosm of how society should be in the true
sense. And by Baba's grace His pristine example reflects even down to our
mode of expression and use of language.
However, the same sterling precedent has yet to be set in the common
society wherein for their own gain exploitative classes have run rampant
and injected innumerable crude themes into the society that got so deeply
embedded that it colors the language itself.
LANGUAGE IS A MEASURING ROD
In this way it is commonly seen that language is a reflection of the mental
standard of any given community. The point being that the status of mind
and style of speech are inseparably linked. And in this regard-- even in
the general society-- there is a tremendous gap between oriental and
occidental expression. As in the current era, the male-dominated capitalism
of the west has set its own negative standard.
HOW IT TAKES EXPRESSION IN LIFE
From morning to night, a string of words and phrases decorate contemporary
western life that are wrought with crude innuendoes and / or superficial
patterns of speech. Perhaps the worst victims of all this are females,
although no doubt many other communities have also been intruded upon. All
authored by a suppressive, male-run society operating on debased
tendencies. And by this way the language has been totally colored.
Of course as Ananda Margiis, knowingly we refrain from indulging in such
ways of speaking yet as this disease is spreading uncontrollably from west
to east we should also be vigilant not to let it land on the shores of our
present AM society. And ultimately we should rid it from the general society.
Here following are a few of the many, many terms that are a product of a
superficial capitalistic way of thinking and / or a lustful male mind-set.
(a) Pig-tail= In order to exploit females and look down upon and create an
inferiority complex on them, this word and others like it were carried into
the society by debased male leaders. Because by treating females like pigs
as if their hair is nothing but pig tails, it helps secure male dominance
as they can push down the self-confidence of women. And continue to pave
the way for more male domination-- ensuring that females remain as objects
of sensual enjoyment.
(b) 'Male-female connection'= Here again a crude sexual innuendo is used to
refer to inanimate electrical components, or what used to be known as a
plug and socket. But in male-capitalistic style just they are dragging down
human existence where crude sensual desires run wild and everything is
calculated according to sensual experience.
(c) 'lady's finger'= This is yet another concocted male term to turn what
is an ordinary vegetable known as okra into a crude reminder to one and all
that the female body is nothing but something for male consumption.
(d) 'meaty'= And in the today's western culture fruits and vegetables are
termed as 'meaty'. So instead of using the more fitting term of 'pulp', the
degenerated state of mind infuses tamasik oriented terms to describe even
sentient things. In a similar way the term 'sweet meats' is used for desserts.
(e) 'chicken breast'= Characteristic of lustful thinking so many terms are
applied to give "appeal" to something.
(f) 'skin'= Just as the meat-eating culture of the west had to get through
the skin in order to get to the meat of slain animals, such persons infused
the 'skin' term to refer to the peel of the fruit.
(g) 'kill two birds with one stone'= This is one of a whole slew of terms
that reflect a superficial, uncaring capitalistic attitude that thinks that
this whole creation is just something for their own personal enjoyment. So
whatever pain or hardship others have to suffer-- whether it be peoples,
animals, or plants-- all that is secondary to the self-indulgent pleasure
derived by the capitalist. So in their self-centered, superficial thinking
such terms are a pervasive such as: 'More than 1 way to skin a cat' etc..
(h) And dozens and hundreds of more examples are there.
THE CAUSE BEHIND THE MALADY
And the worst part is that this disease of language is unchecked and
spreading around more and more. And we can say that the two-fold root cause
of this entire negative convention is:
(a) The lustful thinking of a male dominated society that creates words to
objectify and exploit females.
(b) Superficial capitalist mentality where everything is based on selfish
pleasure-- where there is not a trace of any deeper thinking or higher
values.
Unfortunately both of these outlooks are spreading all around the globe--
from west to east.
BRING RENAISSANCE IN ALL THE SPHERES
In His historic discourse, 'Renaissance In All the Strata of Life', Baba
directs us that we are to guide the society and bring a renaissance in all
the spheres of existence from language and linguistic expression to
politics to economics to culture to spirituality and more. So language is
also one key factor that should be purified, refined and made more
sentient. So this Renaissance touches all the facets of life.
Here following is Baba's call for a total rebirth in all the realms.
Baba says, "The scope of the Renaissance movement is vast, and you will
have to start your work from this very moment: It brooks no delay." (PNS-9,
p.45)
Namaskar,
Maya Devii
Note 1: AM IS SPIRITUAL SOCIETY-- MUST AVOID NEGATIVE TERMS
Our AM society is spiritually based and that sentient and effulgent quality
should reflect in all our expressions of individual and collective life.
And we must not let ourselves get caught up in the use of such crude
terminology that has become so pervasive all around the globe.
Note 2: TRAGIC OCCURRENCE
(warning: strong language used in this note)
In order to thrust various peoples into lowly categories and subject them
to endless humiliation so as to break their spirit and make it easier to
exploit them, the ruling class in various countries like the US has
invented countless degrading terms. In that way nasty slang expressions and
epithets such as 'wet backs', 'niggers', 'bitch' and the like have been
injected into the society in order to press down, embarrass, and dishonor
various peoples and persons of the society. The whole scene is tragic and
sickening to witness how a certain so-called elite sector of society
ruthlessly has executed their exploitative tactics. It is horribly
unfortunate & unspeakable that so many of our brothers and sisters around
the globe are not getting proper respect-- i.e. the respect deserved of a
human being. We are all part of the same human family, all worthy of the
same dignity and love. Per Baba's order it is our duty to remove such
negativity from the society.
Baba says, "Each and every member of the human society should enjoy equal
rights as members of the same family, but there is disparity and it is the
duty of the Renaissance movement to dispel the disparity and bring about
equality, equilibrium, and equipoise amongst human beings." (PNS-9, p.43)
Note 3: A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP
Just as the standard of mind affects the quality of language, similarly
oral and linguistic expression in all its forms affects the development of
mind.
Baba says, "Good company, good books, good literature, good songs,
kiirtanas (devotional chanting) elevate the mind and the mind becomes
sanctified." (MVNS, p.79-80)
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Excellent Teaching but Difficult to Follow
Baba says, "You love your son; that is alright. But if he dies, you will
have immense grief. It is not true? Because a son is a finite entity, he
will not remain forever. He is bound to die one day. Leaving you in
boundless sorrow. but if you take your son to be a manifestation of Brahma,
you need not fear in constant fear of losing him, because Brahma will never
be lost. He is ever present surrounding you. This is the spirit of
renunciation or vaeragya." (APH-4, p. 265)
Note: This above Baba's divine teaching everybody knows, but in practical
life how far everyone follows, every person should look within their own
heart.
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