David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


05 August 2015

QANTAS (Flesh)


Open Letter to Alan Joyce
CEO : Qantas Airways Limited

Dear Alan Joyce

One of our staff recently travelled with Qantas from Melbourne to Queensland and back.

Act 1. On the Friday afternoon 1.05 pm flight out of Melbourne, 
this was The Play as recorded by our staff member, who is also 
a member of Theatre of the Actors of Regard :

QANTAS staff : "Chicken Caesar wrap, sir."

bLOGOS/HA HA : "I'm vegetarian."

QANTAS staff : "I'm sorry sir, we don't provide specialist meals.  (pause)   Would you like some rice crackers?"

bLOGOS/HA HA : "No, thank you."

So, our staff member received no meal. Later, some passengers, including the person seated beside our staff member, accepted to receive a second CHICKEN CAESAR.

     

Act 2. On the Sunday morning 11.00 am flight out of Brisbane,
this was The Play as recorded by our staff member, who is also 
a member of Theatre of the Actors of Regard :
            
QANTAS staff : "Would you like a Moroccan Chicken Wrap or a Ham and Tomato?"

bLOGOS/HA HA : "Is there nothing for vegetarians?"

QANTAS staff : "I'll see if there is an apple down the back."

 Act 3.  Much later, after no apple was brought, when your staff were clearing away the leftovers, our staff member challenged one of your staff about this miserable situation :
              
"It seems pretty weird, in Australia in the 21st century, that QANTAS does not provide for vegetarians as non-specialist passengers. That QANTAS assumes as its default ethical position that it's passengers will require animal blood sacrifice food? As if that is normal and unremarkable. That QANTAS treats the non-sacrificers as "specialist" and is quite happy/blind to not provide them with any food unless they cause a bother."

 "Would it not be more fair and reasonable in Australia in the 21st century to offer everyone something in common? Something we can all eat, something vegetarian? And if QANTAS still wishes to support the animal sacrifice practices of some of its patrons, make death meals the "specialist" ones to be catered for."

 Our staff member informed your staff member he would be writing to you about this and pushing it further. 

 Your staff member was gracious, made certain explanations, and provided a card with a QANTAS customer comments url. 

 Presumably, he also mentioned this conversation to the senior flight attendant who finally brought our traveller... an apple. 
     
 detail
 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...

 LOGOS/HA HA