But simply framing a small scoop of ice cream by calling it large would never work in our family because not one of our grandchildren is unable to tell a large scoop of ice cream from a small one.
Of course, there is this famous piece by Magritte called"This is Not A Pipe" and of course, it isn't. This is an image on a computer of a painting of a pipe. This is not a pipe whether I call it one or not.
If the government releases a new edict calling it the new environmental clean-up bill, and it removes regulations limiting emissions from factories, say, then is it an environmental clean-up bill?
While this may seem a stretch to go from ice cream scoops, to not-a-pipes to government double speak, it really is all part of the continuum of what is at one end and what we call it at the other. For a writer it is a constant labor. Because nothing written is "real". It is symbol.
The cow and the tree and the mountain and the sky just are what they are. But we have developed language, from early petroglyphs and heiroglyphs, to modern day languages in order to describe them to ourselves and to each other. We see a big brown and white cow, or a tall spreading cottonwood tree, rugged snow capped mountains or a dark grey threatening sky. For instance.
Then we have words for ideas and concepts and actions and feelings. And we have words to convey attitudes, such as please and thank you. We long to share our experiences and thoughts with others. We long to dissuade ourselves that we are really alone. We long to be understood.
Rather than try to use words to redefine our world so that we can be happier about it, I think we are better off to use other words to accept our world and choose to see its beauty and goodness. When double speak is employed to redefine and manipulate, we become distanced from reality, from our world and from an ability to be grounded in it.
Yes this is a small scoop of ice cream tonite! Eat it slowly. Savor each bite. Isn't it great that we have this ice cream in the freezer? How great is that! Actually our grandchildren might not go for that one either, but I think the chances are a bit more likely that over time it may shape their attitude towards a feeling of contentment with what they have.
As for me, I believe the practice of gratitude will get us all the farthest. Call it what you will.
