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Exploring the words Dominion and Minion

I started reading the book Beginning Postcolonialism by John McLeod (2010), and in the first chapter of the book the word " Dominion " pops up. I associated to the word " Minion " and have used ChatGPT to help me understand the origins and connection between these words. " Dominion " comes from the Latin word "dominium." Which means "ownership, lordship, sovereignty". "Dominus" is a title for a "lord, master" also exercising authority in both secular and religious contexts. In comparison let's look at the word "minion". " Minion " comes from the Middle French word "mignon," that means "darling, favourite, small, cute, endearing" and applied to show affections to a person or a pet. In English the word evolved over time and came to describe a subordinate or follower who is servile, dependent, or eager to please. Someone who follows orders or acts in an obsequious manner. The...

Är snålheten kulturellt betingad?

 Jag tittade på programmet Sveriges historia och började fundera på en frågeställning som en potentiell förklaring på varför "svenskar upplevs som snåla"? En förklaringsmodell (jag har inga vetenskapliga belägg) kan vara att Sverige har haft ont om mat och föda, många som svält och levt med dålig näring. I flera generationer har det präglat idén och det kulturella fenomenet att vara sparsam, snålaktig och fundera på hur resurserna används. Fin besök, fin fika, fint folk. Många uttryck handlar om att ha det "fint" och det ska sparas till speciella tillfällen, dvs inget som ska göras slentrianmässigt i vardagen.  Finns det ett samband mellan snålheten som på något sätt lever kvar, trots att svenskarna haft det gott ställt materiella standard sedan 1950-talet och framåt. Även idag när ekonomin kärvar, arbetslösheten växer är det ändå en rådande norm att de svenska värderingarna och kulturella yttringarna fortfarande är snåla. Snålhet yttrar sig i att inte bjuda på sig ...

The concept of Repentence

Repentance, a concept that transcends cultural and religious boundaries, is a powerful universal theme. From my perspective it is a Christian concept, but according to research it seems like it is a universal human experience manifesting in diverse forms across various religious and cultural contexts.  Repentance in Christianity In Christianity, repentance is central to spiritual life. Jesus emphasised repentance as a necessary step toward salvation, as seen in verses like Matthew 4:17, where he declares, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Christians believe that humans are inherently flawed due to original sin, and thus, repentance is necessary to cleanse one’s sins and restore a relationship with God.  Christian repentance involves a deep sense of remorse for one’s sins, confession (either directly to God in personal prayer or through a priest in traditions like Catholicism), and a firm resolve to change. Through repentance, believers seek divine forgiveness, w...

The word Straight and its implications

Etymology and Early Uses The term "straight," which is used today to refer to heterosexual individuals, carries various connotations that have evolved over time. Its origins in English date back centuries, but its modern usage to describe sexual orientation has emerged in response to changing cultural attitudes toward sexuality. The word "straight" originates from the Old English word *streccan*, which means "to stretch out" or "make straight." By the 14th century, it had begun to take on meanings related to alignment and following a direct path, as well as moral uprightness and virtue. These connotations were especially significant during the Victorian era, where being "straight" implied physical alignment and conformity to social norms and expectations. In the mid-20th century, "straight" began to appear as slang in American subcultures, initially carrying a different meaning than it does today. Within jazz and Beatnik commu...