What's in a gesture

Long before Juan Pablo Bonet's first modern text to teach the deaf sign language in 1620, was a hand gesture that has lived mostly unchanged for thousands of years.

Weather you use the finger, the bird, the single digit salute, the finger wave , shooting the bird or flipping someone off the obscenity of this hand gesture has gained a universal standing thought the world.

The widely held belief that it dates back to the Ancient Greece and is meant to represent a phallus. The finger barriers intent to show disrespect to the finger-e.

The Ancient Greece or Ancient Romans phallus theory does lack long term credibility. I submit, making the gesture back then was more a non-verbal method of locating like minded people that enjoyed a similar life style.

The more direct meaning that I apply to the middle finger salute, relays to a legend from the middle ages it's been said in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt between France and England of the Hundred Years War. English archers once captured by the French would have there middle fingers cut off to prevent them from using there longbows. To which the English would prominently display them as an act of defiance.

The longbow was a leap in technology for it's time, it was the first bow that could generate enough velocity to propel an arrow which would pierce body armor. The ability to field an inexpensive weapon in the hands of relatively unskilled archer that could kill a highly trained knight was seen as lacking gallantry..... I look at the long bow as being the assault weapon of it's day.

At the time the act of digit taking was an effective method of weapons control for a long bows.

Now I don't expect the next attempt at legislation for gun control to include the loss of a trigger finger just the loss or restriction on firearms and ammunition.

The continues assaults by the agenda driven liberals to regulate our gun rights is merely the path to confiscation then total control.

To the non constitutional agenda driven liberals that think they know whats best for everyone. I will gladly show you my first digit as my act of defiance to your anti-American agenda for it is not my middle finger I rely upon but my first. 

Knowing that this gesture will be lost on your simple minds ….. just look for me to display the time honored hand gesture of the Flying finger.

A Conversation about Race.

In light of recent events with the acquittal of George Zimmerman some ugly truth's are being overlooked. Presidential comments that create greater racial divides are not on a forward leaning path to healing a nations history of prejudices.

It's easy to point out what's wrong with society, we need a leader who can come up with answers to problems not create more.

In my life I've seen prejudices, as a child I was told not to say certain words as not to offend anyone. Now as an adult I personally experienced what prejudice is.

Here is my story.

In the early 90's I worked for a major self moving company as a store manager. Being in need of an assistant manager I hired a man , a brother to an associate whom I had great respect for.

I made several accommodations for my new assistant manager including the unauthorized use of a company vehicle and even sub-let an extra room in my apartment.

All went well till one day after work I came home to a discover the apartment and bedroom tossed . Upon discovering the theft of several items and the rent money I questioned my roommate about the theft.

He confirmed that he lent out the key to his friend to use the buildings gym. Instead his friend letting himself into the apartment, he stole from me what he could.

I confronted his friend over the theft and this was his response.

“You are a rich white boy you can afford it”

He then spent several minuets telling me about how they were slaves and that it is Ok for them to take what they want because I was “rich”.

That episode changed my point of view on what prejudice is.

In my life I have told insensitive jokes but never have I sought retribution for what my ancestors did.

We need an open conversation on what the race problem really is.