The poet Rabindranath Tagore said something that can be applied to many situations in this world of ours where people lord it over others just for the sake of doing it; I'm often tempted to pull it out, but then I think, maybe wait for a better moment.
But perhaps the smug assurance with which our betters inform us that we ought to appreciate them sprinkling ashes on our heads as more ancient, more traditional, than the current method of imposing a cross on the forehead, without addressing why they never thought of it before Covid or how not saying the words of the blessing factors in, is the moment.
The little extra of seeming stricken that this is really the hill we want to die on (no, not really) and the extra extra of quickly reiterating how much more traditional this new way is when we say we are happy we got our cross after all, clinch the deal. So here it is:
Power takes as ingratitude the writhing of its victims.
This article expresses some of what's so galling.
And you may see the quote again...
I keep trying to comment without success!
ReplyDeleteThis is the point though, isn’t it? If a large swath of bishops suddenly wanted to embrace tradition, we wouldn’t have a problem...but they’re doing it to appease those that think they will die by someone touching their forehead which is...regrettable.
Touching people is being stigmatized.
And then the scorn when you can't help but feel disrupted...
DeleteI always keep covid on my forehead
DeleteDont we peasants all🤣
Deletecovid foreheads LOL
LOL
DeleteBut seriously, people cover things (like cheeses) in ashes when they want to keep them sanitary. Ashes are basically food-grade sanitizer.
Leila, loving this new blog, but I have a hard time reading the font. Having some of the letters be slightly bigger (s) or unevenly sized (d and p) makes it really hard for me to follow. Just a thought, should you consider changing the font. I find myself scanning rather than reading because it's uncomfortable on my eyes.
ReplyDeleteOkay, Dixie, I will see what I can do! Thanks for the feedback!
DeleteI changed it -- I can change it again! See what you think!
DeleteLooks great now! The font you chose this time keeps some of the nice characteristics of the other one, but is more even to read. Thank you!
DeleteI received a very high-def cross of ashes on my forehead!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this blog!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming to it, Rosie!
DeleteMy mother just told me that she got her ashes in a little plastic baggie to take home. 😔
ReplyDeleteYes, we had the same script of "an ancient tradition" during our Ash Wednesday, with no words-no response implemented.
ReplyDeleteWill they be implementing the ancient Lenten tradition of the black fast as well or am I silly to ask?
ReplyDelete