An Essay about the Meaning of Words –

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“Revolution”

An essay on circular motion by Tony Rollo

“If you can sit by the river long enough,

eventually the bodies of

dead enemies will float by.” – Daoist Proverb

 

Because I am a product of somewhere between a television screen and a government education, I’ve had to unlearn a few “facts” to make sense of the real world. Now that I’m all grown up I can enjoy the occasional epiphany.

One big epiphany I had quite a while ago is that words have meaning. That may sound simple to understand but today we have weasles that need to weasle out of what they said more often than in the past.

How did the cavemen do it?

Caveman one: Ugh.

Caveman two: Ugh?

Caveman one: Ugh!

Caveman two: Ugh?!?

Caveman one: UGH!!!

Caveman two: Uuuuugh…

When it came time for the caveman to write this revolutionary idea on the cave wall, there presented a problem. You can see the situation. There had to be a corresponding meaning to the “ughs”, right? We had to come up with symbols that defined meaning to our ideas. We had to string symbols together to make up that idea.

Maybe I have way too much contrast in my thinking, but I still feel that two plus two equals four. Maybe I’m a dinosaur?

Today with some folks, their words can change their meaning or have no meaning at all. That would sure make it easier to run away from something they didn’t mean to say. Ink on paper doesn’t erase so well. Or a video on YouTube. Or better yet, they can just delete an embarrasing web page and the electronic ink from the blog if too many disagree or even agree too much. Behold, the electronic chameleon!

We really can’t run away from the fact that words must have a defining meaning. When we string words together they add up to communicate an idea or fact. If our words have no real meaning, how can we properly communicate with one another? Who would ever buy a dictionary?

So I keep reading about the word “revolution” bouncing around more and more these days. And why is that?

A revolution is simply arriving back at your point of origin after traveling for a time in a circle.

Say you want a revolution?

Some ideas are considered revolutionary.

In elementary science class I learned the earth revolves around the sun.

A vinyl LP record revolves at thirty three and one third RPMs. (revolutions per minute).

I was told by my seventh grade history teacher that I had better study about and understand the American Revolution.

My least favorite Beatles album is “Revolver”.

I have eaten food that some find revolting.

I have been told a revolver is better than an automatic.

I have heard parents say that their life revolves around their children.

Your car will be trashed if you “rev it up” over the maximum RPMs.

(there’s that Revolutions Per Minute thing again!)

I have served on an administrative board that has a revolving door policy.

Sometimes I am thankful for revolving credit.

I read blogs where they feel we are well into a second American Revolution.

So let’s start at the beginning. Our nation did not begin with a war. It began with men who HAD won a war against tyranny from an oppressive government far away in another land. But it was not the war. It was years later when they finally finished a string of words written onto a piece of paper with ink that represented ideas for us to live by. They did what they had to do so we would not have to. We live under Liberty and can go to the voting booth.

Our Constitution was created by inspired people. Not unlike Moses when he carried tablets down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments inscribed in their stony surfaces.

A revolution is once around. Around and back again to the beginning. If there is a second revolution under way then we know it will not in this or any other time involve any shot heard around the world, It is with Americans taking a closer look. A closer look at everything and the people we elect to be our administration. We the people are the government led by our Constitution. They are merely the clerks and managers for a time and then they are replaced by us with our vote.

So revolutionary thinking and ideas are good. These ideas and ways of thinking are good for our nation as a whole. For all American people.

Revolutionary minds bring us around and back again to the fundementals. To begin at the beginning when freedom first rang out across our great land. Not by war but by an inspired people who love and understand Liberty.

 

– Tony Rollo / 2009

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