So what’s in a word? Well. lots. The word social and all its manifestations including words and phrases such as socialism, socialize, social network, socializing content, going social…make a tasty sweet and sour soup.
The stigmatized political “socialized “ word, shouted about to repress socially progressive programs, and to defeat those who advocate for such programs, well that’s the sour part. That fear word started in the 30’s and still is being used to frighten the public into a knee jerk reaction against positive social change.
The sweet part of the word soup is coming from those who were children when the cold war ended. Somehow they aren’t frightened by the word “socialized”. These social dare- devils have used these words to beckon us into a sweetened life using social networks to enhance everything including our businesses, and every aspect of our social lives.
Such is the sweet and sour word soup of today… a mixture of words that sound alike but with very different flavors.
13 comments:
Lovin' your message and humor. Keep them coming.
Love your intelligence, sense of humor and savvy presentation of what's wrong with the world. (spoken by a 75 yo Socialist from way back)
Diana Myers url
Love the blog, especially the Passover thoughts. As for socialism and social networking, I was a sociology major and have long had a love affair with all things social. However I have drawn the line at tweeting and facebook and linkedin. I need to see the light of day and wouldn't if I added these to my life.
Hey Diana: Am glad you liked the Passover thoughts.
This social networking thing has its pitfalls as you can see from the Bloggers lament.
Joyce: Thanks for your digging of this blog. Glad McCarthy is gone...he'd be on your gazoo ready to put you in the un-American jail.
As I've always said: socialist shmocialist, as long as I get free healthcare, get the earth green, regulate the banks, and stop having wars...that's all.
Hi Helen,
I really enjoyed your "Blogger's Lament" and "Sweet & Sour Word Soup" blogs. I not only enjoyed their creativity and wittiness, but also because of how they affected my journaling.
I've journaled, more or less consistently, over the past 34 years and have often gone through periods of feeling bored with it. Sometimes it feels as though there is nothing to say even though in my heart I know that can’t be true.
While thinking about what to write in my journal yesterday I thought of your blogs. Suddenly, my pen starting writing in the center of the page, not the top left. Instead of going left to right, I wrote up the page. I started adding colors that I didn't even know existed and before I knew it, words like gazzoo and gavalt started appearing. Next I drew a few critters, a stink bug, a yak I once saw on a nature show that really affected me, and a fish head that looked like a rock and then, because I could, a rock that looked like a fish head and somehow… they looked nothing alike, even though I thought they should.
Staring at a full page thirty minutes later, to my surprise and for the first time, I felt like I had fun writing in my journal.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts so creatively.
Wow! Al, thanks for your open hearted response. I am totally thrilled that my blogstuff has inspired you to loosen up and find many possibilities. Maybe you should start a blog of your own!
A social in high school, meant a dance.... about a zillion years ago.
:)
Hey Geoff: we could use more of those kinds of socials! Dancing every where, all over the place, night and day! ( I'm hot for dancing ever since I started an improv. dance class)
Love it - gorgeous and timely as always.
- Mary (with her socialist hubby & 4 socialist cats).
Rock on, Helen!!!
I must interview your cats for my book SOCIALISM FOR COOL CATS. Are they up for being scrutinized by journalists and political scientists?
(Do you really have FOUR cats...and are they truly socialist or just plain liberal?)
Dear Helen,
I know my mother loved your sweet & sour soup blog.
I, on the other hand loved your kitty and would very much like to meet this little socialist. Just tell her I'm a socialite. I wear a tuxedo every day!
Love, Felix
My cat wants to meet your cat for quiet walks on the beach, camping and fine dining.
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