MEMEHUNTER

Et super te.

Raining today. Shame.

Went to a graduation ceremony this morning. Not my own, obviously. Went to see a mate of mine to the graduating thing. They do it well here, lots of pleasing academic pomp. They have some ceremonial maces that get clamped into the sides of the Chancellor's throne. An old cap that they touch the graduands with. Latin that they intone.

My graduation, although great, was lacking in the mystery part. There was a procession and everything, and our degrees were conferred on us, but all at once. Got a handshake of Peter Ustinov, though, who remains one of the most inspirational men the world had on offer. Mind you, I did get to graduate in Durham Cathedral the second time around, that was pretty special.

The mystery is important, somehow, I think. Actually being inducted into some other group. Rite of passage etc. The world of Academia should be seperate from other worlds. Not because academics are in any way priveleged, but the academics are specialists. We move in rarified fields. We don't do normal, not really. I mean, what we do is think about stuff. Work stuff out so that others don't have to. Ah, I realise I am sounding like a bit of a tosser. Let me fix this: I don't think that *only* academics deserve cermonial bruhaha. All fields are specialist. I ain't no lawyer... poor example, they have their fair share of pomp.

I suppose I mean that more professions should have rites of passage associated with them. There should be indoctrinations into the mysteries of recruitment consultancy, robes of office for accountants, a ceremonial mace for estate agents. Why the hell not?

Bring back the mystery, that's what I say.

Off to the graduation ball this evening. At some point. That is if my date gets in touch and tells me where to meet her. Hmm. Apparently my DJ's ready to pick up... I think I'll go get it.

Get a sarnie too, while I'm about it.

posted by Memehunter @ 12:55 PM