Random Thoughts

wait

because I asked him what the Austrian pledge of allegiance was (because he’s from Austria)

and he said “we don’t have a pledge of allegiance”

and I said “why not?”

“honey, think about what training your children to mindlessly pledge to a flag, without really knowing what they’re talking about, sounds like to Austrians”

“oh. hitler.”

Some schools I went to did this, some didn’t, because I went to a few international schools… But when we did do it, I thought it was kinda like… A school pride song or whatever. It was pretty mindless and I mumbled.my way through.

Then in 4th grade I really listened to the words. I realized it was kind of a lie (didn’t believe in the god part or justice for all. Didn’t really grasp the rest of the meanings.)

My 4th grade teacher saw me not speaking and made me stand there and repeat the pledge in front of everyone, which was kinda traumatizing because I was extremely shy and I’m pretty sure I cried.

Not only that, after I was finished, she berated me in front of everyone and said that I was disrespecting my dad (because of his job.) And that hit hard because at that time, my dad was, like, my hero.

So later that day, I’m still upset. I get home. I wait for my dad to get off work. He walks through the door, I take one look at him and I’m just sobbing because I’m thinking I somehow disrespected my dad.

He asks me what happens, I tell him, and he’s like… Don’t worry about it.

The next day, my dad comes into class. First thing in the morning. I remember how the teacher looked all big in the head. Then he flat out told her that I was to no longer say the pledge of allegiance. Period. Teacher looked all confused, but was like, ok. I had to stand, but I didn’t have to repeat the words or put my hand over my heart.

That was the last time I ever said it. I rarely even stand anymore.

Me, an archaeologist:

‘I do not know what you mean by that,’ answered the leader of the Elves. ‘They are fair garments, and the web is good, for it was made in this land. They are Elvish robes certainly, if that is what you mean. Leaf and branch, water and stone: they have the hue and beauty of all these things under the twilight of Lorien that we love; for we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.”

- Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 8: Farewell to Lorien

This is how I think of Jackson’s movies. Yes, there are serious flaws - Gandalf’s de-powering, Gimli as comic relief, and Faramir, namely - but come on.

Remember when the guys making their chain mail invented a new method for quickly producing large amounts of it by hand? Remember Miranda Otto walking down the street, practicing sword positions? The guys who forged all of the swords - for leads and for extras? The men and women riders who volunteered to be riders of Rohan? The costume designers who designed the inside of Theoden’s armor (which no one would ever see) so beautifully that Bernard Hill said he felt like a king? The friendships between the cast, and their size doubles, and the stuntmen?

“The film’s art director and Kaynemaile’s founder Kayne Horsham worked with his team to construct each garment from plastic plumbing tubes, coating them in pure silver. Once filming wrapped, Horsham dedicated himself to creating a change to the liquid state assembly process to mass produce the polycarbonate chainmail for architectural applications — products that were light, but strong enough to protect the interior or exterior of a building. Now an industry-leading manufacturer, Kaynemaile produces mesh for everything from small interior screens to large scale exterior façades. Their mesh is easy to install and can be custom created for specialized applications.”

https://architizer.com/blog/practice/materials/kaynemaile-mesh-facade-systems/

The witch? Genuinely disturbing. The pack? Also super disturbing, with the added bonus of it being the first time Giles gets knocked out. Never kill a boy on the first date?! Classic!! Out of mind out of sight? Again with the disturbing. Prophecy girl? Breaks my damn heart. So many good episodes. I love it.