Welcome to MythsAmerica. Our objectives are:
1)to share ideas, reactions and thoughts and counterpoints on current events and on the often unilateral and revisionist interpretations of facts and history
2) To stimulate and exchange constructive, challenging and stimulating dialogue
3) To promote constructive, meaningful action for a more peace oriented, more just world

Friday, June 4, 2010

The World According to Euphemedia


I admit with reluctance and false humility that I am a bad writer and I envy journalists and writers who are able to eloquently lay out narratives of current events, accompanied by elegant and imaginative labels with their unbiased assessment of these events and related key players. I am learning a lot from them. Lately I have been studying the use of euphemisms and euphemistic expressions, in mainstream publications; how they present a gentler, more palatable picture of facts. We have so much violence in the world; so it makes great sense to provide a gentler, more soothing expression of facts. There is a lesson here, so pay attention, please:


The euphemism is an important expressive (and impressive)device and I too must learn to use it if I want my writing to be read by the masses.  Read on and I'll show you what I've been working on at the end of this writing.
For now, I owe a debt of gratitude to the NYTimes and other mainstream publications and media for their numerous and eloquent teaching moments provided to me. The transformation of facts into euphemistic jewels of communication is a magical feat accepted and loved by all, just like a magician's sleight of hand delights and amuses young and old.
For instance here are some magical euphemistic moments one finds by just paying some attention :

-History's most catastrophic environmental disaster caused by a greedy corporation  becomes the
 "unfortunate BP spill"

-War Crimes become
"necessities of conflict"

- Illegal occupations of sovreign nations become:
"the country's duty and mission of bringing democracy to our world"

Corporate fraud and theft by corporations become:
"Ethical lapses"

The most crippling recession in decades becomes:
"A dip in the economy"

Genocide and installation of concentration camps becomes
"our comprehensive program to provide adequate and ample services to serve our beloved native american population"

The killing of civilians becomes the well worn:
"collateral damage"

You see the elegance, the soothing literary imagery that is poured into our intellectual cups, as organic poetic ambrosia, a comfortable cup of linguistic chamomile that calms and relaxes ahhh...in fact, I am so calm now after reading another issue of the NYTimes, that if you'll allow me, I'll indulge in just-in-time applied learning to test my level of fluency with this journalistic device, as I attempt to apply it to well known facts:

The isolationist, racist wall built by Israel to keep Palestinians in a ghetto of desolation and despair, can become:
"An intellingent continuous wind barrier to protect the beloved Palestinians from adverse wind fluctuations, and maintain an intact diaspora"

The building of illegal settlements on ancestral native lands can become:
"A multi faceted, progressive beautification architectural project"

The destruction of vineyards and orchards can become:
"An agricultural clearance and environmental purification endeavour"

The control of vital food and water to the people in the Gaza strip can become:
" A wholistic program to stimulate self sufficiency, portion control and obesity avoidance"

The cold blooded, calculated and brutal killing of unarmed peace activists in international waters can become:
" A mutually unfortunate lapse in judgment and a cultural maritime misunderstanding"
And so on.

Finally my lesson hit me like a ton of lovingly baked Siena colored paninis of local clay (aka"bricks") :
                                            The-Nile... ain't just a river in Egypt!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Criminal Inquiries: Slick Rhetoric or Solemn Pledge? The Whole World is Watching


"If laws were broken, leading to this death and destruction, my solemn pledge is that we will bring those responsible to justice on behalf of the victims of this catastrophe"
Today, President Obama said these words referring to the BP oil disaster; we, the people urge our President to pledge the same to the peace activists of the flotilla attcked by the IDF and to the people of Gaza who are under siege with our continued complicit assistance to Israel, funded by the US Taxpayer.
Mr President, we need words and actions we can believe in! NOW!