History wars

"The discipline of history has been colonised by post-structuralists who are fundamentally opposed to grand narratives, and are in this way, undermining it. It is time to reclaim history for itself and resist the hegemony of the culturalists." Product of conversation between tdix and Michael Allen

Discuss.

Signs and wonders

I have a bit of an attachment to Marrickville. For the last 16 years it's been my home and so whenever it rates a mention I tend to pay attention. And the latest signs shenanigan was no exception.

In yesterday's (pink) Herald there was an article about a proposal at a council meeting to make local businesses translate all foreign-language signs into English. I've also heard that a Today Tonight crew was on the prowl in the area.

The Herald article made a particular reference to a Chinese video shop on Illawarra Rd that only has Chinese characters on its signs. I often walk past this shop and seeing it there really got me thinking.

From the start, the plan seemed like a bit of a beat up because there isn't really any problem that it's addressing. In my experience there are hardly any signs with no English and it's quite easy to figure out what local businesses are all about. It smacked to me of overregulation.

But I wasn't going to leave it there. So today being my day off, I went out for a walk along a busy section of Illawarra Road (between Warren and Marrickville Rds) with a pen and a notepad jotting down the languages on the signs of the local businesses I encountered. In all I passed 107, inluding the one that featured in the Herald. It's main sign has now been covered by sheets of A3 paper with the English words "Chinese Video Rental" written in black felt-tip pen.

Out of the 107 businesses not one had no English on its signage. I've summarised the language mix below:


English only: 50 (46.73%)
Chinese and English: 12 (11.21%)
Vietnamese and English: 31 (28.97%)
Chinese, Vietnamese and English: 4 (3.74%)
Arabic and English: 5 (4.67%)
Greek and English: 3 (2.80%)
Tibetan and English: 1 (0.93%)
Indonesian and English: 1 (0.93%)

Total: 107

To be fair some of the Vietnamese shops and restaurants had very little English - there was one bakery type place that only said "Fresh Pork Rolls" in English - but there is no need to change anything about the signs. They're perfectly adequate in my patch.

Now if only the council would do something about all those uneven footpaths . . .

Pink suits you

No - really it does. Monday 23 October is the National Breast Cancer Foundation's Pink Ribbon Day and that means that there should be people everywhere wearing pink ribbons. The foundation has the lofty aim of funding a cure for breast cancer and this day is a key component of their program. It's also why all those Mt Franklin water bottles have been sporting those trendy pink lids for some time now.

I've never really paid much attention to Pink Ribbon Day before. It's always been just another one of those charity days that seem to pass by with a fading flourish of PR hype. But this year it's different. It's personal. Three people I'm connected to in various ways have contracted breast cancer and had to go through the horrors of chemo. I've hoped and prayed for my aunty, a woman at church and the sister of a guy at church as they battled the illness.

It's amazing how powerful the experiences of loved ones are. Issues that once lingered in the shadows are suddenly thrown out in the open. Earlier in the year my cousins home was threatened by bushfires. The fire passed close by but they were spared but in the days before the reassurance came through I was gripped like never before. Those people on the news were in the same situation as my family. It really brought home how narrow my outlook can be. In a needy, groaning world it can be easy to close my eyes and claim compassion fatigue - until something happens.

My awakening to breast cancer has had a much more encouraging impact as well though as I have been blessed to witness the great testimony of the woman at church undergoing treatment. Every time she makes it along she's full of praise and is just so thankful for the opportunity to meet with her brothers and sisters. We always thank God for the privilege but she's helped us see how true that is. In a recent conversation she told me her faith's been tested but as it has been refined we have all been challenged. Even in the shadows the light penetrates.

And in the dimness don't forget to show some pink.

To begin at the ending

My time has well and truly come, the writing's on the wall, and soon tdix at USYD will be a thing of the past.

Today I succumbed to sentiment and opened the floodgates of my nostalgia as I passed a uni day in the best possible way: without a single class. There was coffee, a plenitude of puns, small group, a PM, sunshine (and burnt skin), ISM, prayer and a challenging conversation. Farewell to the sandstone stomping ground.

But enough of that. Today also marks the start of The Shadow. My aim here is to take some of the anecdotes and niggling thoughts I encounter and fashion something that provokes thought and entertains. If my previous blog is any sort of yardstick there will be a fair bit of navel gazing and heart bleeding. There will certainly be times when it falls short of what I want it to be, but that is to be expected. This life under the sun is filled with shadows.

Hopefully this one will point to the Light.