Lyndon Hood - Classi-to-the-shiz-icist
Sunday, May 20, 2007
I would blog of the media awards, except I'm suffering from factors. Here's something I mostly prepared earlier.
You might recall my previous comments on New Zealand First's uneasy relationship with the classics.
Well, I don't want to indulge in intellectual chauvanism. And I don't want to do anything to discourage people who try to bring a broad range of thought to bear on legislative debate.
So, rather than personal criticism, I'd like you to think of this as a indulgent comment on the fallibility of humanity.
I happened to be listening to Parliament the other day, due to failing to turn it off after question time (I've been hanging out for the Hansard to come up). Defending his SeniorGold card from anti-microchip and related doomsayers he explained how completely innocent it all was and followed up with this...
It's a common enough, in fact it's something of a cliché, to describe uncredible doomsayers as Cassandras. Which misses a critical point.
Cassandra's curse, as the story goes, was to prophesy doom accurately and not be believed. Which was just the start of her trouble. This kind of cheerful malice on the part of the gods might be considered the Greek's way of saying that life kind of sucks sometimes.
Anyhow, my point is, to call people who think you actions will have bad consequences Cassandras is not precisely a killer hit.
As I say, indulging human frailty. Indulge, indulge.
Though the way Winston went on to say
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New Hood: Lyndon Hood: Budget Crisis - Lack of Nickname
You might recall my previous comments on New Zealand First's uneasy relationship with the classics.
Well, I don't want to indulge in intellectual chauvanism. And I don't want to do anything to discourage people who try to bring a broad range of thought to bear on legislative debate.
So, rather than personal criticism, I'd like you to think of this as a indulgent comment on the fallibility of humanity.
I happened to be listening to Parliament the other day, due to failing to turn it off after question time (I've been hanging out for the Hansard to come up). Defending his SeniorGold card from anti-microchip and related doomsayers he explained how completely innocent it all was and followed up with this...
It is not too difficult, and I hope that member has finally got it, instead of being some doomsaying Cassandra, as Ron Mark says...As it happens, Winston may have been let down by his wingman on this one.
It's a common enough, in fact it's something of a cliché, to describe uncredible doomsayers as Cassandras. Which misses a critical point.
Cassandra's curse, as the story goes, was to prophesy doom accurately and not be believed. Which was just the start of her trouble. This kind of cheerful malice on the part of the gods might be considered the Greek's way of saying that life kind of sucks sometimes.
Anyhow, my point is, to call people who think you actions will have bad consequences Cassandras is not precisely a killer hit.
As I say, indulging human frailty. Indulge, indulge.
Though the way Winston went on to say
...But she does not know what the word "Cassandra" means or where it comes from, and never will know.is kind of the icing on the cake.
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New Hood: Lyndon Hood: Budget Crisis - Lack of Nickname
Labels: classics, cliches, satire, seniorgold card, Winston Peters
