Panache
At first I was a bit surprised that a down home country “boy” would suddenly use the word panache, but then I considered that its journey had taken it to France from Italy and had begun its journey from the Latin word pinnaculum which is a diminutive of pinna “feather” . Of course a country boy would know about feathers of various birds –pheasants, chickens, robins, bluejays and one must not neglect those proud turkeys – wild and otherwise. That, of course, leads us to those human who malign the reputation of turkeys. But I digress.
It would seem that the city turkeys or perhaps a city turkey had appropriated the term, which is a high falutin way of saying stole it from the country boys (and girls).
Another young man picked up on the theme of feathers and suggested that he might wear me as a boa. Obviously this country boy (me) has been living too long in the city because I completely missed the point. I did know, of course, that “Birds of a feather flock together.”
I was again reminded panache has come to mean flamboyant confidence of style or manner (oxford dictionary) perhaps because style can often masquerade as substance.
It is convenient to divide each other into groups and claim privilege based on the artificial assignment of style. While I value the knowledge of knowing how to function in certain settings without drawing attention to myself, I must not mistake that for a FDA certification of safely or quality. Men and women in suits will sell me a used car which may or may not run until I leave the lot or a medication with a new name for the price of a new home. Men and women in clerical garb calling on the God of their understanding have fed my ancestors to the lions. Men and women who covered themselves in the deeds to property branded some as witches.
So today I ask myself, “Who indeed has panache?” Perhaps the good old boy who is smiling all the way through the country song has more rights to that claim after all.
When I view the world from the vantage point of the neck around which I am draped I might just smile and see what the Gods see: Panache at the point of origin.
Written February 20, 2018
At first I was a bit surprised that a down home country “boy” would suddenly use the word panache, but then I considered that its journey had taken it to France from Italy and had begun its journey from the Latin word pinnaculum which is a diminutive of pinna “feather” . Of course a country boy would know about feathers of various birds –pheasants, chickens, robins, bluejays and one must not neglect those proud turkeys – wild and otherwise. That, of course, leads us to those human who malign the reputation of turkeys. But I digress.
It would seem that the city turkeys or perhaps a city turkey had appropriated the term, which is a high falutin way of saying stole it from the country boys (and girls).
Another young man picked up on the theme of feathers and suggested that he might wear me as a boa. Obviously this country boy (me) has been living too long in the city because I completely missed the point. I did know, of course, that “Birds of a feather flock together.”
I was again reminded panache has come to mean flamboyant confidence of style or manner (oxford dictionary) perhaps because style can often masquerade as substance.
It is convenient to divide each other into groups and claim privilege based on the artificial assignment of style. While I value the knowledge of knowing how to function in certain settings without drawing attention to myself, I must not mistake that for a FDA certification of safely or quality. Men and women in suits will sell me a used car which may or may not run until I leave the lot or a medication with a new name for the price of a new home. Men and women in clerical garb calling on the God of their understanding have fed my ancestors to the lions. Men and women who covered themselves in the deeds to property branded some as witches.
So today I ask myself, “Who indeed has panache?” Perhaps the good old boy who is smiling all the way through the country song has more rights to that claim after all.
When I view the world from the vantage point of the neck around which I am draped I might just smile and see what the Gods see: Panache at the point of origin.
Written February 20, 2018
RSS Feed