When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Saturday, June 11, 2005
We provide this definition for those under 40 or so who have never heard this archaic term used in a photo caption today by the Hartford Courant in reference to the marriage today of the daughter of New York Mayor Michael Blomberg.
The Courant photo caption reads: "New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will marry off his daughter Emma today."
I note that in an apparent attempt to be egalitarian, this definition says it is about finding a husband orwife &emdash; which tends to mask the fact that, in the sexist society where the term was used, it was only deemed necessary to "marry off" daughters, since they were largely unable to work to support themselves and had to be handed off to husbands.
I have no doubt Emma Bloomberg will be able to take care of herself.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
MSN Encarta - Dictionary - marry off
MSN Encarta - Dictionary - marry off: "marry off
transitive verb
find marriage partner for somebody: to find a husband or wife for somebody, especially a child of yours, often to serve your own ends or to free yourself from responsibility for the person"
We provide this definition for those under 40 or so who have never heard this archaic term used in a photo caption today by the Hartford Courant in reference to the marriage today of the daughter of New York Mayor Michael Blomberg.
The Courant photo caption reads: "New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will marry off his daughter Emma today."
I note that in an apparent attempt to be egalitarian, this definition says it is about finding a husband orwife &emdash; which tends to mask the fact that, in the sexist society where the term was used, it was only deemed necessary to "marry off" daughters, since they were largely unable to work to support themselves and had to be handed off to husbands.
I have no doubt Emma Bloomberg will be able to take care of herself.
Palema
7:10 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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