You know that little "fishy" symbol commonly seen on cars and trucks in this part of the USA? It's carried, I think, as a symbol relating to Jesus Christ. In fact its proper title is vesica piscis/pisces (being translated that means fish bladder). It's a formation found in sacred geometry. There's a very good write-up by Dr. Dan Sewell Ward at his website Library of Halexandria. Also, Charles Gilchrist, mandala artist, explains with illustration:
And an enterprising You-Tuber has created a video attempting to link the shape of vesica piscis/pisces to parts of the human body (eye, ear, mouth, vagina.....). Whether this is valid linkage, bearing in mind the sign's esoteric meanings other than as a Christian symbol, I'm not certain, here's a link - see what you think:
Does anything in this brief extract ring any bells? There are similarities around in the USA these days. (If nothing rings bells for you see HERE.) The excerpt comes from They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer, a book published in 1955 about ordinary Germans during the period 1933-1945. These words from the chapter headed
But Then It Was Too Late. See Info Clearinghouse HERE.
"What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it. This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap, took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised (perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath, of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter."
Earlier this week I read about a guy who was thrown off a United Airways flight (before take-off I hasten to add) for taking a photograph of a seat. It seems that since 9/11 flight attendants on United Airways (one of their planes was part of the tragedy, remember) have certain instructions to be ultra-watchful and aware of potential dangers. On this occasion things went a wee bit too far. The guy involved is a blogger who specialises in travel articles, and he's a frequent flyer with UA. Impressed by the new aircraft he found himself on, and just before take-off, he was taking a photograph of the back of seat in front of him (showing embedded TV screen), using his phone. The flight attendant noticed and told him to stop, as it is against regulations to photograph the inside of a plane. He tried to explain that he's a professional travel blogger, handed her his business card. Unfortunately, in his explanation he stated, "I'm not a terrorist". YIKES! That t-word can no longer be uttered on a plane, or in an airport. Upshot: Captain was called. He, naturally, sided with his crew member. Passenger was sent off and re-booked on a non-through flight to his destination (a 3 legged journey instead of the straight-through flight). That does seem like a daft outcome - if they suspected him of terrorism, even slightly! Anyway, here's a link to full detail of the story; lots of comments follow the article. ***************************
Forbidden photograph-taking brought to mind one of our experiences; 2005 it was, when in Oklahoma City we were taken to task for taking a photograph of our double-reflection in a rather peculiarly positioned window.
Said photo is at at one of my husband's Flickr pages.
Caption:
Reflections in a forbidden building. As we were standing there doing this shot of our double reflection, a security guard came out of the building and told us to move along, that taking pictures of the building was not permitted since the bombing. The guard was referring to the tragedy at the Murrah Building which stood a few blocks away...a few years ago...Comments follow, indicating that we were, in truth, breaking no regulation......As if!!
Well, Twilight...enjoyed today's commentary! My heart rate and adrenalin are up! The "Scorecard" is an excellent review of our loss of rights. I knew about the majority...did not know that I lived in a "constitution-free zone"...one more for my list. I'd have to say that the entirety of the US is in a "constitution-free zone" and has been since the Patriot Act. When-O-when will the Constitution of the United States ever be restored???????
ReplyDeleteThe video of vesica piscis was very interesting. I've investigated Fibonacci series and bits of the piscis prior. I doubt many Christians would appreciate knowing the true meaning of their fishy bumper decal...I suspect most would deny that any other implication could be had with their fishy and such is blasphemy.
Just another sad incident with the photo of a plane seat and your double reflection. As with so many insane, tough-nuts, governmental policies that strip the citizen in favor of government, these periods of fear-power tend to be cyclical...a reversal will descend. I was born during the McCarthy era in the USA. Government was as extreme and perhaps more so than our current status. There was an existing constitution at that time, however, but work-arounds are always possible. As I stated in a prior post, the Patriot Act is a blank check that supersedes all rights and legalities. It was an unfortunately mandated piece of legislation by the US Congress in the name of fear. Our day of paying for this shame will come.
mike ~~ Glad you enjoyed! Re the Constitution - I doubt many people would accept that it has all but gone, so restoration is a dim prospect. The population has, once again, "boiled into" this via gradual losses.
ReplyDeleteI've pondered and read on the sacred geometry issue before, always come away from it amazed, but at the same time feeling a bit let down because wonderful as it seems, it doesn't get us very far in solving problems these days. Still it's fascinating.
Yes, the Patriot Act lies at the core of so much that's wrong now.
The photograph incidents are just minor issues, hardly worth bothering about - and yet, these things tend to mushroom. The fact that one cannot mention certain words in airports or on board passenger planes is, for me, especially creepy. It reminds me of a time back in 1962 when I was in Rome with new first husband - in a small cafe. I was holding forth about some political matter (like I do at times) when husband #1 shook my arm whispering "Shhhh!!"
"Why?"
"Those are soldiers at the next table".
"And......???"
Creepy!
This is off the path of your commentary, but here's a enriching article...11 pages, but well worth the information it provides:
ReplyDeletehttp://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/
mike ~~~ Thanks for that - it's an excellent article - but sickening at the same time. Makes me feel that there'll never be a way out of the horrendous health care hole this country is in - for ordinary people that is, not for those profiting hugely from the racket that health care has been allowed to become.
ReplyDelete:-(
I'll save the link for future reference, too.
Huge post, Tw. Lots of information and challenge. You are becoming a real source on government subjects.
ReplyDeleteI know these posts are a lot of work, but keep plugging.
anyjazz ~~ Thanks - I enjoy sniffing around and learning stuff, so it's really nothing like "work" - and it keeps me out of other mischief! ;-)
ReplyDelete“They thought they were free”, “We thought we were free”, good title for a booklet ...
ReplyDeleteChomp ~~~ Yes it is! You should write it! :-)
ReplyDeleteTwilight, here's a commentary regarding the Time article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/02/american_doctors_are_overpaid_medicare_is_cheaper_than_private_insurance.html
mike (again) - Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteGood article, and the usual too-and-fro comments beneath it from both sides of the divide help to shine a light on how we got here and will remain here - in a health-care mess.