Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Listen to Daddy

I really find this cartoon funny:


It's from Star Wars: Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown. While I don't think Vader was actually lucky enough to raise his twins (there's a Luke version of this book, too, called Darth Vader and Son), I find the concept amusing, and the book a pleasant read (those illustrations are so charming!).

It revolves around the idea that, if Darth Vader was able to raise his own kids, what kind of parent would he have been? It's funny, because you have all these images, depicting scenes of one of the most awesome/awful villains of all time... doing just the things every ordinary parent does.

The picture above is one of those things that parents always do--particularly dads. And if, like me, you don't have brothers, it's wise to listen to Papa Dear before going out the door--and I don't mean just before a date, but also for any occasion. Dads, being men, know how men will see you if you wear a particular outfit. Needless to say, anything too short at the bottom, too low at the top, or bare at the back will not pass a father's standards--so why should it pass yours?

When it comes to modesty and appropriate attire, sometimes the rules of proper skirt lengths, sleeve lengths, or collar cuts can feel really stifling. Instead of such rules I prefer going the practical way, like: clothes have to help you move around with ease, bend without worry, and take the bus/jeep/train without coming undone. But of course, when you feel that you don't know better, take a leaf from the Vader  book and rely on a trusted source--and the rule goes: If you have to sneak out of the house so Daddy doesn't see you wearing that thing, better change it now.

“I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.”-Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum

Monday, July 15, 2013

I'd love to love you, but...

"This is the day your dreams come true!"
"What do you know about my dreams, Gaston?"
I've always thought about rejection as a form of character building, for ladies as much as for the gents. When a guy likes a girl, it's only natural that he tries to get to know her, make friends with her, and then later on pursue and court her. But when he gets rejected, it's an occasion to man up and perhaps pursue other things in the meantime, as the heart mends, and he moves on.

On the other hand, a lady finds herself in a more difficult position. Say, she does not like the guy at all. She has to find a way to let him know that without being uncharitable. If, say, she likes him but does not see him as a boyfriend (that is, future husband) for one reason or another, then that's another type of problem: how do you reject someone and still be friends? The last situation I can think of is if the guy is making his advances even when it's clear that the girl is unavailable, like when she has a boyfriend (!), a husband (!!), or a vocation (!!!). In these situations, the character building lies in the girl's fortitude: how to make and stand by a decision, and carry out that decision with a lot of love.

This song by the Corrs is about a girl rejecting the love offered by a guy. It's actually a very kind rejection song haha. But I think it sums up how a lady can do this with a lot of love: telling the truth, praying for the person, and trusting that time will heal all wounds. Here's the song, with the lyrics below. Enjoy!


 

LOVE TO LOVE YOU - The Corrs

I would love to love you like you do me,
I'd love to love you like you do me,
There's a pillar in my way you see,
I'd love to love you like you do me,

I, met you on a sunny Autumn day,
You instantly attracted me, when asking for the way,
God if I had known the pain I'd make you feel,
I would have stopped this thought of us, and turned upon my heel,

Though you should leave me,
Time make it be alright,
Though you must leave me,
Time will help you see the light,
You don't need me,
Time make it be alright,
Though you must leave me,
Believe me when I tell you,

I would love to love you like you do me,
I'd love to love you like you do me,
There's a pillar in my way you see,
I'd love to love you like you do me,

You recognised my barrier to love,
I know there's nothing worse than unrequited love, unrequited love,
So I prayed to God that I could give the love you gave to me,
But something's lying in my way, preventing it to be,

Though you should leave me,
Time make it be alright,
Though you must leave me,
Believe me when I tell you,

I would love to love you like you do me,
I'd love to love you like you do me,
There's a pillar in my way you see,
I'd love to love you like you do me,

I would love to love you like you do me,
I'd love to love you like you do me,
There's a pillar in my way you see,
I'd love to love you like you do me,

Break those pillars down,
Break those pillars down,
Take those pillars down, down, down,
Oh, take those pillars down,
Love to love you like you do me,
Break those pillars down,
Love to love you like you do me,
Oh take those pillars down,
Love to love you,
Love to love you,
Love to love you,
Love to love you,
Take those pillars down,
Love to love you...