[capeAngedlelp]

Whew, during the beginning of the Iraq war, Hotei? I bet you had some crazy flame wars. I'd like to have an actual Socrates Cafe held at the borders near my home, but the atmosphere in it is just so . . . strip mall. Rush rush rush, look at this look at that, look how chic that is! Not my type of atmosphere. Religious and political fights . . . Oh well, what can anyone expect when a bunch of people of varying opinion get together? I hope we can get some interesting topics going.

I used to play with sticks all the time, too; mainly broom handles, actually. My mom never was very happy with me about that.

For me, I always wanted to be a great warrior; defeat the evil villain in an awesome showdown, save the damsel and distress and live happily ever after, etc. What I wanted was to do something great, and with honor and chivalry and, above all of course, good manners. Swords usually have represented honor and the doing of great things to me. I used to love the idea of being a dashing knight. Then read up on some knightly doings and wasn't so enamored with them.

A few years back, though, I began to become very interested in the history of asia. The culture of feudal Japan has always seemed so amazing to me; it's completely unlike anything I experience today. While reading up on it I became interested in eastern thinking, and through that other ways of thinking.

My question is: do swords represent something greater than ourselves to us? I see many things in life as a form of art, and pitting your skill and mind against someone else is like a beautiful dance. Do we seek a kind of beauty and harmony through the sword? Greatness? So, is it that we want to achieve greatness through the sword?

I consider swords to be a way to express my feelings. they can be saving, or can be condemning; they can protect, or destroy. A sword to me is a reflection of self. What you do with it represents who you are.

Well, not necessarily just a phallic symbol, eh? Could be a variety of symbols.