April Fool's Day

I am a Grinch and grump around most holidays but I do love April Fool's Day. I love the idea of fools and jesters, and practical jokes, and humor. I think this is the only holiday worth celebrating. We should exchange gifts of funny noses, and rubber chickens and whoopee cushions. Actually, April is Humor Month. So if you don't enjoy any other month enjoy April. Take yourself less seriously and laugh. Below is a history of April Fool's Day:

April Fool's Day History

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1.

Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.

This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.

In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April 'Gowk', another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.
In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of a joke is called a 'noodle.' It was considered back luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.

In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on March 25 and is also referred to as "Roman Laughing Day."
In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends.

The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.
So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1, don't be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you.

Material taken from:
http://www.april-fools.us/history-april-fools.htm

Jana Ruth
Author of Laugh and Live Happier: P.L.A.Y.S. for Life
www.janaruth.biz
www.laughandlivehappier.com
www.onewomanslaughter.blogstop.com

The First "ISM"

The first thing we ask about a baby is it a girl or boy. As a baby boomer I have experienced "sexism" all of my life and I find it frustrating that Geraldine Ferraro's remark is only criticized about what she said about Obama's race, not about his gender. Her remark is below:

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," "And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is."

I don't agree with her statement that if he was a white man, he would not be in this position." I think if he was a white man he would. I do agree, however, that "if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position." Throughout my life, men less qualified, of all colors, have gotten positions, just because they are men. It is like the cartoon of the boy baby and the girl baby looking in their diapers and the girl baby saying, "Oh that explains our salary difference.

If Clinton and Obama switched ages and experiences I think things would be quite different. If Clinton was Obama's age and had his experience, she would never have even ran in the first place. People would have told her to get more experience. If Obama was Clinton's age and had her experience, he would already be the Democratic Presidential candidate. I think that being a man is very much to Obama's favor. People are, I believe more sexist than racist at this point in America. Many people, (all colors), would rather vote for a men any color than a woman, even if she is white.

Historically, black men have gotten their rights over women. Black men got the right to vote first and when early feminists like Elisabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony pointed that they didn't think that was fair they were called racists. Women are still not in the Constitution. Black, brown, any color man is less threatening to people than any color woman.

Throughout this campaign people are severely criticised for making racists comments but sexist comments are not frowned on and even encouraged. Until sexism is gone, non of the other "isms" will be gone. Racism, ageism, all other isms come from the mother of them all sexism.

My latest experience of sexism was a job that I applied for with four other candidates. Four of us were white women, with numerous advanced degrees in the area we were applying for and many years of experience. Three of us were already working in the department. The one lone male candidate was the least qualified, had no experience in the department and his degree was in another field. The organization that I was working for had just started a diversity program and the one lone male, who was African American was chosen.

I believe that if the tables were reversed and there had been four very qualified African American males, or any males, and a less qualified white woman had been hired, there would have been a price to pay. Don't tell me that sexism is less important than racism. Don't tell me that women now have all the rights they need. All I have to do is watch sports on television, and all I can find most of the time is men playing. When I go the movies, most of the stories are about men, and all most all the movies are directed by men.

Yes, racism exists, and women of color have it double. Not only are they dealing with sexism, they are also dealing with racism. I get very tired of hearing how hard it is for minority men, give me a break. As a woman I have it as bad or worse than you do. I still only make about 77 cents for every dollar you make. A new study shows:

One year out of college, women working full time earn 80 percent of what men earn, according to the study by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, based in Washington D.C. Ten years later, women earn 69 percent as much as men earn, it said Even as the study accounted for such factors as the number of hours worked, occupations or parenthood, the gap persisted, researchers said. "If a woman and a man make the same choices, will they receive the same pay?" the study asked. "The answer is no. "These unexplained gaps are evidence of discrimination, which remains a serious problem for women in the work force." Specifically, about one-quarter of the pay gap is attributable to gender - 5 percent one year after graduation and 12 percent 10 years after graduation, it said. One year out of college, men and women should arguably be the least likely to show a gender pay gap, the study said, since neither tend to be parents yet and they enter the work force without significant experience. "It surprised me that it was already apparent one year out of college, and that it widens over the first 10 years," Catherine Hill, AAUW director of research, told Reuters.

So, yes, sexism still exists and I wish the candidates would talk more about it, even Hillary. As a woman, I want this talked about because I think it is just as important if not more inportant than racism.

If Obama is elected it really won't be that much of a first, because we only have had men as president, and he is only half black, and we have had, historians tell us, Presidents before with mixed blood.

If Hillary wins it will be for me, a time to rejoice, because finally the best person won, and she is a woman.

Jana Ruth
Author of Laugh and Live Happier: P.L.A.Y.S. for Life
www.janaruth.biz
www.laughandlivehappier.com
www.onewomanslaughter.blogspot.com

No Two-Armed Hugs Lasting More Than Two Seconds

What? Come again? At Shepherd Junior High School, in Mesa, Arizona, there is a new policy against public displays of affection. It seems that principal Eileen Cahoon felt that PAD's (public display of affection) should not be allowed on campus. It seems this policy has been around for many years and is only being reinforced now as the results of an annual student survey, where one-fourth of Shepherd students thought kissing and hugging in the hallways was a major problem.

Principal Cahoon felt that as a result of the survey she needed to take action. She said, "students were allowed to shake hands and it would probably be OK for athletes at sporting events to congratulate each other with a hug. But hugging in the hallways was strictly forbidden."

So what is a "too long hug?" The hugs have to last less than two seconds. What happens to the students who break the rules? The punishment goes from verbal warning to suspension. How are students responding to this new policy? After school on Friday February 29, 2008 about 100 kids gathered chanting, "We want hugs." One student planned to wear a T-shirt that said: "More hugs, less war."

I don't know about you but to me this is funny, but sad. With all the research out about the importance of Emotional Intelligence, and the importance of expressing your feelings in a positive way, this seems to me to be going backwards. It reminds me of when I was in High School in the 1960's and girls could not wear patient leather shoes, because anyone could look at our shoes and the reflection would show up our skirt or dress (girls were not allowed to wear pants).

What are we so afraid of? Don't we have more important things to worry about than whether kids are hugging in the hallways? And does this mean that teachers are going to have to go around with stop watches to time the kids hugs? The principal did say that students could shake hands and stand close to one anther.

During the 1960's we had "sit-ins," maybe students in 2008 will have to have "hug-ins."

Jana Ruth
Author of "Laugh and Live Happier: P.L.A.Y.S. for Life
www.janaruth.biz
www.laughandlivehappier.com
www.onewomanslaughter,blogspot.com