Linguist members' writing
I will record three writing corrections from one of our members at The Linguist. If there is interest we can do more of this. Writing English is a great way to improve English.
Here is the text. The corrections are shaded in green.
Advent’s garland
This is about a Scandinavian tradition, but it is also a trend that has spread elsewhere in Europe
Four weeks before the winter solstice, one creates a garland made of fir branches. It can be hung in the middle of the main room at home. It can be laid down on a table as well.
Four candles are fixed on the garland.
During the first week, one of the candles is burnt for a few moments. Two candles are burnt the week after that, and then three candles are burnt on the third week.
When the longest night of the year finally comes, one burns the four candles together. Thus, as one goes through the decline of the sun, more candles are lit. They somehow take the place of the sun. During the solstice evening, they symbolize the end of winter and they announce the sun's return.
After Advent comes a cycle of twelve days which accompanies the winter solstice. This is the deepest point of the year. The Earth holds its breath.
Throughout those twelve sacred nights, light will be reborn to illuminate a new year.
Outside light and inside light, the action of fire and flame are brought together.
A great calm will settle into homes. This calm will have to sink into each one of us, at least one time a year if we want to look out on the world with new eyes, both clear and faithful.
Maybe, this is a part of the origin of the traditional question:
What are your best resolutions for the coming year?
Is this justice?
Last October the 27th, M. D 58 years old was attacked by three armed burglars who had broken into his house. He was held down on the floor by one of them while the others manhandled his wife. A weapon on his temple, M. D tried to break away from his attacker who was trying to strangle him. During the fight, the victim twisted the gun and it went off. There was a shot however the bullet went into the ceiling. M. D shot at his attacker who in his escape fell through a window. He died soon after. As a result M. D was put in prison the 29th. The crime was intentional homicide! Even though he defended himself and his wife, he was considered a murderer.
His wife has been obliged to move out of their apartment to take refuge in their daughter's house. Many people found that case unfair. The mayor of the town warned the attorney general. At the beginning of last week the government took a look at this case, thinking the place of that honest man was not in prison. A politician from another party disagreed with this position, feeling that the government didn't have to intervene. However the politician was not shocked by what happened to M. D.
Last Saturday M. D was liberated. Good news. What is more is we could hear the family of the deceased bandit shouting on television. Even though their son went to steal and attack someone, they were angry, shouting against the law saying that the law was two sided and so on. Really! Sadly, it is not uncommon for an innocent person like M. D to go to prison.
Justice, did you say justice?
Last week there was another incident like that. Some bandits came in the house of a retired antiquary to steal their valuable stuff. They manhandled an aged couple roughly 85 years old. The son of those poor people, being on the second floor, went down after hearing loud noises. Seeing what was happening to his parents, he went back up to get a gun and to shoot at the attacker who was brutalizing his mother. One of the burglars died.
The same thing then happened to the son. He was put in prison and the old couple had to move out to avoid retaliation by the bandit’s gang. Until now, we have no news on television as to whether he has been liberated or what else happened.
Solstice.
Solstices are and remain two favoured periods in the annual course of the cycles of nature. Throughout the months, the slow and deep breathing of Nature connects Earth and sky with the same future.
Throughout summer and autumn, the days become progressively shorter. Eventually, the sun is present less and less to enlighten men's activities. It seems as if the sun is dying. However, as everyone knows, the disappearance of the sun would be the end of all life.
During the winter solstice, in the longest night of the year, men start a long evening with genuine contemplation. By tending the flame in the family hearth they show their commitment to the return of the sun, and they rely upon the continuity of life.
The sun does not betray their hopes, though. It takes back its elan in the winter sky as it rises day by day, always higher in the spring sky.
When summer comes, the solstice is the sun's triumph. Men celebrate the power of sun with joy.
Comments