[Loch-ruadh] The Finger

[Jane Sitton]

Next time I'll begin a joke by saying it is all tongue in cheek.  I never
for a minute believed it.

I didn't think anyone else would be so gullible to believe it either.  Or to
think that I actually believed it.

Madelina

-----Original Message-----
From: Padraig O'Maolagain [mailto:padraig_ruad at irishbard.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 4:01 PM
To: loch-ruadh at ansteorra.org
Subject: Re: [Loch-ruadh] The Finger


RE: Giving the Finger

Although amusing, this is complete fabrication.

- The French would have merely killed the archers.  Even an archer with a
missing finger could still wield a sword or pike, and therefore be a danger.
Also, generally the only prisoners that were taken in medieval battles were
those who could be ransomed.  Archers, being commoners, would have no one
who could pay a ransom for them, with or without their middle fingers.

- The English, rather than using the single digit salute, make a "V" with
the index and middle fingers (kind of a reverse hippie peace sign), and
gesture with an upward motion of the hand.  Although the middle finger we
are familiar with is used and understood throughout the world due to the
wonders of mondern communications, it is an American gesture.

- If words beginning with "pl" are so difficult to say, why are there so
many of them?  Please, plastic, platonic, plutonium, plum, etc.  Why do
these words (some of which go back as far as "pluck") not start with "f"
rather than "pl"?

- Relating "the bird" to the pheasant feathers is merely circular logic to
tie it all together.

Sorry to be a finger plucking party pooper.  :)  Another Urban Legend bites
the dust.

Padraig
Nunc est bibendum
*****************
Politicians prefer unarmed peasants