ORATORY

ABC Wednesday & more prompts below
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GURU TONY

Oratory is the art of public speaking, but how powerful is it? We’re
used to politicians spouting spin, but maybe it has more a hold on us
than we believe. To understand, we must go back to its beginning, in
the prehistoric storyteller, telling his tales by the campfire. He spoke
of the tribe’s past exploits and place in the universe. In other words,
he offered meaning and a will to glory.

This formed into the
great myths.

However, we now know myths are subtle. Whilst validating a ruling
elite, they were also as one with the people’s ways and placed taboo
upon them. This proved an important means of control. People could
identify with the tales, and slowly people become the story. And in
being as one in the story, a consensus grows. Such an ability is still
with us today. From the Medieval Christian media which portrayed the
life of Christ through the year, to the modern Soap opera with its
daily dose of storytelling, a powerful elite subtly defines the behavior
by which we live. Indeed, so powerful could be its influence that I’d
argue our view of reality changes to reflect the story. So remember
when you hear politicians speak, or descend into your favourite
storytelling media, it is usually defining the story of us, through the
power of the elite.

Eye On the World
Essays on everything from science
to religion, politics to crime

BRIT NEWS: So, British National
Party leader, Nick Griffin, gets his say
on BBC’s Question Time. And rightly so. His
party got a million votes, and despite their vile
ideas, freedom of speech must prevail. But the real
villains here are the main parties who’ve not only ignored,
but destroyed the entire culture of, the 20% British working class,
leaving this vile joke the only party that speaks for them.

WORLD NEWS: A re-run of the Afghan election farce is about to go
ahead in the hope that corruption and fraud can be avoided this time.
This is all very well, but is it right that western troops’ lives should be
put on the line to achieve it? When will the west learn, democracy
takes hundreds of years to achieve. It will not happen there.

BRIT NEWS: Bank of England governor says many banks should be
broken up. Totally agree. As with most organisations nowadays,
they’re too big, too distant from the consumer, and too
dictatorial in their approach. This is how we got in
this mess. Smaller and more would increase
true capitalism thru competition, and be
of a size where the consumer’s
thoughts matter. Remember,
Big Is Bad!!!

RATTLER’S TALE

A Voyage of the Imagination

One Single Impression
ReadWritePoem – 3 Word Thursday
Friday Flash 55 – 3 Word Wednesday

SHIFT IN TIME

I stand in this time and place,
Other things, though, want this space,
Atoms and particles and bugs galore,
Most go through but some can’t be ignored,
We’re only here for a blink of an eye,
If only a hint of them could be spied,
Like that truck hurtling down the line,
I just hope I can shift in time

THE LATE CLIENT

Fiction: Madame Gracie had been delayed getting to her séance room.
It had been a bad car accident outside and she hoped her client
wouldn’t be late also. While she waited, the ectoplasm seemed to be
forming easily. It was suffarcinate in nearly every facial orifice and
particularly spiscious. Perhaps it was the close proximity to death
today; so tristifical. And her initial contact with her spirit guide proved
difficult. Perhaps it was the archaic words she used. Eventually her
client appeared but seemed rather distant, as if not there at all. ‘Who
are you?’ he asked, frightened. Madame Gracie’s first thought was
that he had died, but as her spirit guide came through loud and clear,
she said, rather surprised: ‘Oh, I’M dead.’

suffarcinate – to stuff
spiscious – thick consistency
tristifical – causing to be gloomy

THE SPACE AGE FAIR

Roll up, roll up, the ultimate ride,
It’s quite an experience, I must confide,
A roundabout such as never seen,
Once you come out, you’ll be surprised where you’ve been;
Now don’t be put off by my big bug eyes,
Come ride the universe, get the prize,
Okay, when you’re back you may not feel whole,
We’ll implant a foetus and take your soul

FLASH 55 – PERFECT

Fiction: It was my virtual reality dream – to create the perfect woman.
I worked hard on the program and once complete the experience was
fulfilling in every way. At least, at first. But gradually disquiet crept
upon me. Where, her personality; the imperfections of humanity? How
can I love her when she makes me so insignificant?

NIGHTMARE SCHEMES

Sit on a thought, incubate ideas,
Hatching an answer to our dreams and fears,
This is the way progress goes,
Listening to he who we think must know,
But rarely does he produce our dream,
So often we end with a nightmare scheme,
Maybe because he claims it is true,
Such vanity from him, not thinking of you

© Anthony North, October 2009

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