Chamblee54

PG saw a note on facebook … RT @jaybakker: I yelled out “Don’t let the bastards get you down” and Kris said back “I’m trying not to.” #Kristofferson #DieHappy. Bobbi McGee said this would be a good subject for a post. Pictures by The Library of Congress (Union soldiers during the war.)
The traditional “Latin” phrase for this is Illegitimi non carborundum. Wikipedia says “Illegitimi non carborundum is a mock-Latin aphorism meaning “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”. (Carborundum is an industrial abrasive material.) .. Illegitimi suggests illegitimate to the English speaker, but it is certainly not the usual Latin word for “bastard”, nor does it carry the same negative connotation as in English: it was never used as a general insult as the English term “bastard” still is. It also should be kept in mind that “bastards” is often used in English as a generic derogatory term, not necessarily relating to the marital status of one’s parents.”
Uncyclopedia contends that “Illegitimi non carborundum is a Latin phrase meaning “Do not make illegal copies of this disk.” It is also sometimes mistaken to mean “fuck the system” by people without a sense of humor. ”
The third Google result is Do Not Be Discouraged . It seems to be a Christian site dispensing motivation, and can be ignored without much thought. Next is uncommon goods. For $20.00, they will sell you the “”ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM” KEYCHAIN”. This phrase is available on a necklace and a paperweight, in addition to a labyrinth bowl.
Wikianswers reminds us that INC is not really Latin. The process is making faux Latin words is called macaronics. (Is dancing the macarena involved?) The phrase that pays is honored by a facebook page, that 157 people like. The blog INC.blogspot last issued a post May 18, 2007.
PoliceOne has the last spot on page one. It has the unhappy story of a policeman, and ends with a veteran cop telling a rookie to not let the bastards get you down. This page has an ad for Peerless Handcuff Company, selling restraints in nickel, black oxide, blue, red, pink, orange, and yellow.
And now for something completely different. A local group called Bedlam had the idea for a party. They called it PocaHotAss. The idea was to dress up like a cartoon character Indian, go to a bar in Buckhead, and drink American Harvest Organic Spirit. This is a “new vodka drink”, and was one of the sponsors of the party.
Once word got out, there was criticism of the event. Actually, it was more like a firestorm. People denounced the theft of heritage and appropriation of culture. It got rather ugly, with comments like “To tell a people of color how to react to racisim is ver , very problematic.. “. Finally, the event was cancelled. Another reason to drink American Harvest Organic Spirit will be found.
PG does not have a taste for discussions like this, and sat this one out. He does not drink, and had no intention of attending the event. A raging controversy does not require the participation of everyone within earshot. It is ok to not care.
One thought that seems to have escaped the attention of the participants is the spectacle of Import Americans dressing up as Native Americans to consume mass quantities of new vodka drinks. Of all the rude things the European conquerors did to the Natives, introducing them to alcohol may the cruelest. Alcoholism is a major problem in Native America these days. For Import Americans to dress up as cartoon character Natives, and guzzle vodka, is beyond disgraceful.