fireplaceporno
11-20-2002, 09:58 AM
It occured to me today that I have seen many things around the presummably predictable household of life that relate themselves to Tool over and over again (see Connections in Everyday Life in the 46 & 2 forum for another example).
When walking through the beautifully and newly cleaned streets of Chicago on a journey to an 8:30 class, I was approached by a certain animate individual waving a stack of white pamphlets. Upon my interaction with this person, I came to learn that he was infact the member of a parish, what particular religion I could not gather from his ranting and raving, and he was on some sort of mission to educate the quick-walking souls of the city's morning. I stopped, seeing as though I needed something during the day to enlighten me, other than classwork and passages in the daily Red Eye (a free Chicago newspaper). The discussion lasted about fourty three and a half seconds, and to be honest I can't remember most of it, because the individual talking to me had a hard time with pronunciation. However, the jist was something along the lines of "the end of the world is coming, watch your ass". The thing that intrigued me about the disclaimer I came to hear today was, to finalize his obviously urgent statement (as I walked away and shook his hand) the preacher told me
"LEARN TO SWIM MY BROTHER, LEARN TO SWIM"
I found it both odd and amusing, and thought it appropraite to share here today. I have come up with a theory revolving the words Learn to Swim and their figural meaning, opposed to their literal meaning which is blatently obvious. It seems as though Western society has implanted a common bond within itself as to the end of the world as we know it. The Flood, so commonly used to describe destruction and demise, as well as cleansing and reafformation, is more of a figural Icon that a literal form of extinction or cleansing. In persons who are dedicated to relieving fellow citizens of pain and suffering during the end of the world (as is our trusty preacher mentioned above) The Flood more specifically resembles its destructive form. This being said, it makes perfect sense to assume that learning to swim would guard against this destruction, therefore saving ones self and soul from the ultimate demise of civilization. But, is Learn To Swim literal, or figural? I tend to believe that the term Learn to Swim is figural. It is an expression, which can be directly related to a sort of enlightenment, or a sense of self, or the process of becoming one with a higher authority or life force. Learn to Swim probably does not mean take up lessons at the local YMCA. More importantly, Learn to Swim can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, a person who is depressed, void of enjoyment and overstressed could be told to Learn to Swim, meaning learn to survive this depression, become accepting of life and move on. A person who has commited vicious deeds, betrayed society in some erronious way, could also be told to Learn to Swim, meaning something along the lines of "there will be consequences for your actions, you'd better prepare for them". Learn to Swim is a very powerful statement none-the-less, with a variety of uses within the language or vernacular of a culture.
Note: Special thanks to my trustee preacher, who, in a quick rant, beguiled me with ideas and theories on the notion of LEARN TO SWIM.
When walking through the beautifully and newly cleaned streets of Chicago on a journey to an 8:30 class, I was approached by a certain animate individual waving a stack of white pamphlets. Upon my interaction with this person, I came to learn that he was infact the member of a parish, what particular religion I could not gather from his ranting and raving, and he was on some sort of mission to educate the quick-walking souls of the city's morning. I stopped, seeing as though I needed something during the day to enlighten me, other than classwork and passages in the daily Red Eye (a free Chicago newspaper). The discussion lasted about fourty three and a half seconds, and to be honest I can't remember most of it, because the individual talking to me had a hard time with pronunciation. However, the jist was something along the lines of "the end of the world is coming, watch your ass". The thing that intrigued me about the disclaimer I came to hear today was, to finalize his obviously urgent statement (as I walked away and shook his hand) the preacher told me
"LEARN TO SWIM MY BROTHER, LEARN TO SWIM"
I found it both odd and amusing, and thought it appropraite to share here today. I have come up with a theory revolving the words Learn to Swim and their figural meaning, opposed to their literal meaning which is blatently obvious. It seems as though Western society has implanted a common bond within itself as to the end of the world as we know it. The Flood, so commonly used to describe destruction and demise, as well as cleansing and reafformation, is more of a figural Icon that a literal form of extinction or cleansing. In persons who are dedicated to relieving fellow citizens of pain and suffering during the end of the world (as is our trusty preacher mentioned above) The Flood more specifically resembles its destructive form. This being said, it makes perfect sense to assume that learning to swim would guard against this destruction, therefore saving ones self and soul from the ultimate demise of civilization. But, is Learn To Swim literal, or figural? I tend to believe that the term Learn to Swim is figural. It is an expression, which can be directly related to a sort of enlightenment, or a sense of self, or the process of becoming one with a higher authority or life force. Learn to Swim probably does not mean take up lessons at the local YMCA. More importantly, Learn to Swim can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, a person who is depressed, void of enjoyment and overstressed could be told to Learn to Swim, meaning learn to survive this depression, become accepting of life and move on. A person who has commited vicious deeds, betrayed society in some erronious way, could also be told to Learn to Swim, meaning something along the lines of "there will be consequences for your actions, you'd better prepare for them". Learn to Swim is a very powerful statement none-the-less, with a variety of uses within the language or vernacular of a culture.
Note: Special thanks to my trustee preacher, who, in a quick rant, beguiled me with ideas and theories on the notion of LEARN TO SWIM.