Words are the medium of human consciousness, and thus etymology is a record of cultural change. Although not as complete or direct as history, the changes in the way people and groups invent, pick, and use words indicate trends in their thinking. As anyone with a background in natural language processing can tell you, the volatility of word definitions contributes to the difficulties of unambiguously interpreting communication from our fellow man.

I've been considering etymology in light of some feedback I recently received

Are you looking for your personal bully pulpit with this website, or are you trying to generate business interest in your computer savvy?

I expected static, since the news section of my site contains some material that represents my own opinion on subjects well outside the domain of software. In particular, a stance against the invasion of Iraq is becoming increasingly unpopular among those opposed in a climate of polarization and exhaustion. However, I was especially troubled by the phrase "bully pulpit" since it seems to imply that I've been acting as a bully. Not only would that impression undermine my aims, it is not in my nature and would stand in strange irony to other statements I've made to date.

So I did some research and as it turns out, the idiomatic expression in question has a colorful history and is frequently misunderstood. The component words themselves are striking examples of linguistic metamorphosis. The term "bully" originally meant "sweetheart", coming in the 16th century from the Dutch term boel meaning "lover". Somewhere along the way, the British adopted it as a general term for something that was good or admirable. Only later did it develop a pejorative sense, perhaps out of a tradition of sarcasm, to mean literally "pimp" and then what we now interpret as "a person who hurts, frightens, threatens, or tyrannizes over those who are smaller or weaker". The word "pulpit" started out describing a stage or scaffolding, and was only later attributed a firm connection with religion and politics. The final amalgam now refers to the full spectrum of interactive experience, from an interactive leftish www.bully-pulpit.com to a static reactionary www.thebullypulpit.com. The words were actually first put together by Theodore Roosevelt to describe the U.S. Presidency, which he considered a terrific platform from which to persuasively advocate an agenda.

While a web site is certainly an effective platform for dispensing information of all sorts, be it fact, finding, or editorial, my aim is to be refreshingly transparent rather than forcibly persuasive. Mentata Systems is not an opaque company with the standard aversions to controversy or truth. As a sole proprietor, I am an honest real living breathing person: an individual in every sense of the word. I made my statements on the Bush administration and its war plans because I felt compelled to; someone taking the time to investigate me in depth can't be left wondering where I'm coming from. That doesn't mean these beliefs have direct bearing on my endeavors or that I'm predisposed against working with any other individual, group, company, or organization because of their views or affiliations. However, I know there are many (notably in my local area) who wouldn't have anything to do with me because of mine, so let's not waste anybody's time. To set the record straight, I've never in my life been registered as a Republican or Democrat.

A Libertarian Statement of Principles

These news pages allow me to introduce myself and my work, practice my expository writing, and plug into the Zeitgeist. As I return to the technical specifics of my software package, they will scroll off into oblivion left only for those who care enough to look. On the other hand, the software examples, which are devoid of my own commentary, will remain a central part of the site. I've used the de facto taboos of politics and religion to demonstrate my software because I've observed that these subjects are what people, by and large, most like to spend their time thinking and talking about. Hosting lots of this sort of content has been a successful strategy at making my site provocative and sticky. As I've said in earlier posts, the subject of politics is not so dear to my heart. I view religion as a largely personal matter. They both just make for much more unique, lively, and engaging applications than something weak and inane like... a pet store.

My final example, the Jesus Blog, may have contributed to the perception that I'm really more interested in preaching than programming. I can assure you that is far from the truth. I must say, I've been disappointed by how few people have any testimony, insight, or perspective to share in response to the words of Jesus, which are supposedly so fundamental to Christ-ian American thinking. I was actually looking to test a weblog facility without having to subject participants to my own soapbox verbal diarrhea on some narrow domain of discourse, but apparently I've misjudged. Perhaps this exercise is considered blasphemous, like graffiti on the face of God or such nonsense, but I would offer that it is instead the most direct and inoffensive way to share your own views, concerns, and tributes. If the lightning was going to strike anyone it would've been me by now. New passages from Jesus' ministry will automatically be added to the weblog each week for the next several months, and I encourage you to reconsider adding your own free anonymous comments. I don't moderate the forum, and to further distance myself from the bully image, I hereby promise to leave all submitted comments intact and uncensored.

My news statements are scheduled to change in character. Expect a series of weblogs to be released after Easter to serve as ancillary platforms for my need to express myself. With my planned examples complete, I am now (finally!) returning my attention to what I know best: my software.

The LDAPHttp v1.0 Software Development Plan

In the meantime, may God bless America, its military members, citizenry, and government in times of war and in times of peace, but at least as important...

May God bless the rest of the world, too!

Thanks for the feedback, Dad. I'm not desperate for business interest, but I do need to demonstrate a better sense of community.