Flora of Iran

[Richard Jensen]

Perhaps the response below demonstrates why a single standard is
needed.  I suspect that most of us (at least in the US) do not equate
"Death to..." with "Go to hell."  And, there is a real discrepancy
between the view of satan as a buffoon and satan as the (perhaps)
ultimate evil-doer.  A great deal has been lost in the translation (I
have heard stories about a Pepsi Cola ad in Japan that translated as
"Will bring your parents back from the dead.")

If we all spoke the same language, instances such as these would be much
less likely.  So, pewrhaps if we al write species descriptions in Latin,
ambiguities and misunderstandings will be kept to a minimum.

JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE wrote:

> Someone, apparently Iranian, wrote me off-list to
> comment on my notes yesterday. I apologize to
> him and anyone else who may have taken offense. Iran
> is a great country with a very long, proud history.
> Iranians are justied in anger at the US government
> for its past support of the Shah.
>     I spent three months living in a moslem country
> (Indonesia) and gained respect for that heritage
> beyond what most Americans experience. I was told
> there that the phrase "Death to" is meant more in a
> religious context than a physical one, equivalent
> to an American saying "Go to Hell." And Satan is
> viewed as more of a buffoon than an evil-doer in
> Islam.
>
> --
> Dr. Joseph E. Laferriere
> "Computito ergo sum ...  I link therefore I am."



--
Richard J. Jensen              TEL: 219-284-4674
Department of Biology      FAX: 219-284-4716
Saint Mary's College         E-mail: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Notre Dame, IN  46556     http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rjensen