I wore a tie yesterday that had the monkeys on it who are in positions symbolizing “Hear no evil, see no evil, say no evil, do no evil”. It’s fairly new, but I don’t remember where I got it. Since I only buy one tie per year now, I’m pretty sure I didn’t buy it myself. It must have been a gift.
After I got to school, I started wondering what the origin of this symbolism was. Then I started worrying: could it be some pagan teaching? I did a little quick research and came to the conclusion that it may have had some religious origins in the distant past, but was more of a cultural statement than a religious one. Wikipedia says:
In the western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by looking the other way, refusing to acknowledge it, or feigning ignorance.
I’ve never thought of it that way. I sort of took it at face value. But then, it IS monkeys. Can they ever be trusted to be straightforward?
I was just about to ask about the bottom monkey when I read your caption. Perhaps he is the monkey who has seen, heard and said a bunch of evil. He looks pretty guilty.
He’s the “do no evil” monkey. But I have seen a joke version of these monkeys that calls him “have no fun”*
*I do not endorse “evil” as a form of fun.
Lately, when people give me ties, I’ve been grabbing a Sharpie&tm; and writing who the tie is from and the year.
Now I check the back of my tie each morning, so that if I see the person who gave me the tie that day I can point at the tie then at the person then at the tie.
You should have ended that with “I’m on a horse”.
That’s one of hubby’s favorite commercials these days, so – once again – you made me smile. Nicely done, Miss Lauren.
Where’s the monkey with his hands over his nose????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx4UEe98EkY
In good taste, off with the monkey with one finger up his nose, I’d imagine(rimshot).
[I think the bottom monkey has that "OOO, you caught me!" look on his face. Wonder what he was doing just before they painted his image on your tie, Brad? Hmmm...]