Ritz Kracka

Ritz Kracka

Saturday, April 4, 2015

“He Loves Me! He Really Loves Me!” Oh, wait…he just wants money. Texts from the Sun – 040315



I had just sent Tre off with his father after a week-long spring break.  Tre’s spring break, not mine.  But that didn’t keep him from reminding me “But its spring break, mom!” if it looked like I was getting too involved in my work.

It was a lovely week playing with the child.  It was also a long week, so when I got this text from Tre about 20 minutes after sending him off, I was over.the.moon:

“Hey ma!”

Awwwwww!  How sweet is THAT, I thought to myself.  Here he has only been away from his mother not 20 minutes and he is reaching out to touch me.  My grin is a mile wide!  So I respond:

“Hey Tre!”

I start imagining what he is going to text next.  Like maybe he will he say:

“Just wanted to let you know how much I love you!”  Or:

“Thanks for such a great spring break!” Or even:

“You are the best mom ever!!!”

My fantasy is interrupted by a beep on my phone, indicating a text message has been received.  I can hardly wait to FINALLY have my “World’s Greatest Mom” award endorsed by none other than the Sun himself:

“Can I spend forty five [of my allowance] to buy something big?”

My heart sinks, deep, deep down.  But I recover quickly.  I show I am bigger than all of that. I even smilee.

“Sure. :o)” 

I mean, he really doesn’t have to check with me….it’s his money.  But he does, though.  It’s cute.

“Thanks!  :D”

Awww….he’s smiling…look at that!  He’s such a happy boy.  


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

#thisisisis

What happens today when you google “Isis?”  All sorts of horrifying words and images are presented about a group of so-called *Islamic* extremists who are doing VERY BAD THINGS to other people in the name of so-called religion. 

I.S.I.S. is an abbreviation for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. But even the president of the United States refuses to call it that – President Obama calls the group I.S.I.L., replacing “Syria” with “Levant,” a term used to describe that area of land which encompasses Syria, and also includes the countries/regions of Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.  Because clearly, Mr. President knows that this group is NOT Isis. THIS is Isis.  


Let’s take a little dip back into our not-so-recent history when another sacred, ancient symbol was bastardized in the name of killing a whole LOT of people.  A time when a megalomaniacal leader managed to brainwash an entire civilization into compliance.   I am, of course, talking about the Svastika.

When I pointed to the Svastika and asked the Sun to tell me what it meant, he looked at me as if I was cray and said. “That? That stands for good luck, mom.”

“Yes!  Yes!”  I exclaim, “it DOES!”  And then I thought…where in the H.E. double hockey-sticks did he learn THAT from?

Me: Tre, where in the H.E. – double-hockey sticks did you learn THAT from?

Tre: From “The Legend of Zelda,” mom.

video games.  butofcourse. 

In the Egyptian pantheon of deities, Isis is a very important deity indeed.   Her name is interpreted to mean “throne,” which is where Isis takes her place, among the other various gods and godesses.  Conspicuously absent is her ruling partner, Osiris, who was killed by his brother Set (sibling rilvary), yet still managed to father a child with Isis, Horus, who eventually avenged his father’s death by killing Set and restoring justice.  It has been suggested that many of today's currently-practiced religions have their origins in Ancient Egypt's "Cult of Isis," including (gasp!) Christianity. 

I remember a television show when I was in my grade-school years (back in the 70's), called  "Isis," later renamed "The Secrets of Isis."  The show centered around a woman who was able to call upon the powers of Isis when she needed super-strength to fight injustice.   She would take out her amulet, spin around, calling out “Oh Mighty Isis….”  and the, essentially turn into Isis, who would then, as the "Champion of Truth and Justice" go off and be her bad-ass self, taking out ALL of the the evil-doers.  For REAL evil-doers, and not of the George W. Bush variatal of evil-doer.  The show has also been described as: 

"...Saturday morning's first live-action super-heroine, saving lives and stopping crime in a mini-skirt and go-go boots...." 

You can see a clip of  "Isis" here.

Today, what the children are getting instead are ongoing stories describing man's inhumanity to man, in gory detail, and a deep dive into the personal life of JihadiJohn,  a Kuwaiti-born, British-raised, University of Westminister-educated, later-turned I.S.I.L. militant, who is reportedly the man pictured in many of the various be-heading videos broadcast around the globe far-and-wide. A LOT of times.  Holy Moly are we sick.

Enough is enough.   I refuse to see a childhood symbol of female strength, courage and wisdom be bastardized, twisted and used to torture and kill in the name of (self) righteousness. 

Isis, IS, WAS, and always will BE a symbol of ALL that is whole-ly, good and just.    

And so – to review:  THIS is NOT Isis:
 


And neither is this:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS is Isis:



 …and THIS.

























 

...and here is Isis nursing her baby Horus:

 ...any questions?