--- samir_kelekar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The concept of black smoke, white smoke to indicate the election of the Pope > is quite funny.
Samir, There is a language and race element being overlooked. One can ask why is black smoke chosen to signal failure (non-election of the Pope) and white smoke to signal success. Why not the other way around? One finds racial connotations in the use of language, as in "black death" to describe the plague. On the other hand to soften, even forgive a falsehood, is called a "little white lie". To commit certain crimes is considered a "black mark" on one's record. Why not "white mark"? This is to associate black people with crime. There are many other examples. It is unfortunate we do not pay attention to language, especially its hidden racial, sexist, aegist overtones. Yes, black smoke to denote failure is not outside our racial prejudices, including the Vatican's bias for reserving its highest honors of Popes, saints for Europeans (whites). Regards, George
