"We can still pluck yew!"—The Middle Ages
PLUCK YEW
—
Consider this old preserved middle finger.
Society agreed the person this finger belonged to must be arrested and never allowed to speak.
He did not speak the “truth”.
He was censored because it was democratically agreed to by the majority.
This is the middle finger of Galileo Galilei.
A 400 year message.
But how did we get here?
The illustrious history of the middle finger, sometimes known as "flipping the bird," (the English to the French) is as colorful as it is contentious.
This gesture, a universal symbol of disdain, has roots that reach deep into the annals of history.
Ancient Beginnings
Our journey begins in ancient Greece, where the philosopher Diogenes was known for his cynicism and boldness. Legend has it that he once used the middle finger to express his disdain for blabbering orators, much to the amusement of the crowd. The Greeks called it the "katapygon," a term that hinted at its vulgar connotations.
Roman Times
The Romans, never ones to shy away from adopting Greek culture, embraced the gesture with gusto. They dubbed it the "digitus impudicus" or "impudent finger." Roman soldiers would often use it to insult their enemies, a gesture that clearly transcended language barriers.
The French Connection And The Bird
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, where the French played a pivotal role in its evolution. During the Hundred Years' War, the English longbowmen were notorious for their skill. Captured archers often had their middle fingers cut off to prevent them from drawing their bows. In a cheeky display of defiance, English archers would wave their intact fingers at the French after a victory, as if to say, "We can still pluck yew!". This also became known as as "giving the bird" as the archers used feathers on their arrows. And when they how the target, well they got some of the bird.
The bird phrase continued into the 19th century. It evolved from the earlier British theatrical practice of hissing like a goose, or "bird," to show disapproval.
In contemporary times, the middle finger has become a global symbol of rebellion and irreverence. From rock stars to everyday folks caught in traffic jams, it’s a go-to gesture for expressing frustration and defiance.
While the middle finger might seem like a simple gesture, its history is a tapestry of cultural exchanges and historical events. Whether you're a philosopher in ancient Greece or a modern commuter, flipping the bird remains a timeless way to say what words sometimes cannot.
Let us never forget to give The Bird to those that believe they and only they alone hold “the truth”. They don’t. Mind the feathers…
“I want Elon Musk liable for everything on his platform”—‘The Expert’
In every epoch they roll out this type of person to make a big noise.
They always talk about the “truth” and mix it somehow with “science”.
Science is empirical observation and falsifiable tests.
Their “truth” is a just point of view. Their point of view.