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February 27, 2006
Historical Rhetorical
Jesus started it. Think about it - there He was, hanging on the cross, and in sheer agony, He looks up to Heaven and asks "Why hast Thou forsaken me?" In this case alone, a rhetorical question is fitting and appropriate. It sets up His suffering as the ultimate Martyr.
The same cannot be said for a child's first rhetorical question: WHY? Why are you driving? Why did you stop? Why am I a girl? Why are you a Mom? WHY??? In one syllable, grown men and women can be reduced to spittle flying, red faced babblers of answers that fly ove the heads of children thinking of the next 'why'.
Age doesn't help, either. It seems that the older a child gets, the more a parent is reduced to rhetorical logic. "What were you thinking?" to a seven year old's permanent marker artwork to your walls, their body, or tiled floor. Teenagers stare blankly at parents as the age old "DO YOU THINK MONEY GROWS ON TREES?" is bellowed across the living room.
It isn't until a person reaches adult age that the rhetorical question takes on an entirely different meaning. For some, the sarcastic comeback is worth enduring the question:
"Are you sick?" "No, I am red in the face and vomiting for the thrill of it."
"Are you busy?" "If you ignore me on the phone, typing on the computer, and taking notes, then no, I am free."
"What seems to be the problem?" "Well Dr, I don't think I was born with this NAIL IN MY HEAD."
Sadly, there are those people whose entire life is a string of rhetorical questions. They are the same people who suffer from bad timing, poor judgement, and bad luck. You want to feel sorry for them, but after they ask you if you are dieting when you are drinking Slimfast while holding a gym bag, you just want to put your hands around their necks and squeeze until they can't ask: ARE YOU MAD AT ME?
Are there any good rhetorical questions? I'd answer that, but then it ceases to be a rhetoricial question.
Posted by Tish at February 27, 2006 04:28 PM
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Comments
I don't think I every outgrew the "Why" questions. It drives my sweetie bonkers it does ;-)
Posted by: LisaBinDaCity at February 27, 2006 05:00 PM
Tish, has this been your best post, or what?!?!
Posted by: Paul of York at February 27, 2006 06:31 PM
Do you know what the first recorded word of Jesus is? Why, it's "Why...?
Posted by: Paul N. at February 28, 2006 05:44 AM
When you really don't want to know wassup?, then you say, "Wassup?" Same with "How are you?" And "Hot today, isn't it?"
(The answer to "Why hast thou foresaken me?" is: "You're 33 years old and you're still living at home. Get a life, for Christ's sake!")
Posted by: old horsetail snake at February 28, 2006 12:20 PM
Do you want me to comment on this?
;)
Posted by: Skunkfeathers at February 28, 2006 01:24 PM
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? I sutter to think of the pain of separation from God. Clearly, it was the worst of His agonies. Don't you think?
Posted by: Mike (exscientia) at February 28, 2006 05:54 PM
So true, so true!
Posted by: Home Sweet Home at March 2, 2006 04:04 AM
Have you heard...Why can't I drive? from a 16 year old girl?
Posted by: Andy Marsh at March 6, 2006 01:55 PM