thoughts on the news of the day: teapots

hmmm…..

            I have been searching for teapots today on the internet.  They sparked my attention this morning by a picture for a blue and white polka dotted one in an ad to the right of the day’s news.  I sort of collect teapots and my daughter has asked for one so teapots are kinda on my mind lately.

            As I browsed around the internet, I thought of a phrase that is not spoken just a whole lot in our language today.  “Tempest in a teapot,” has been used colloquially in the past but not so much lately.  It basically means making a big deal out of something that is not a big deal at all.  It came from the English term, “storm in a teacup” but the original version is attributed to Cicero who wrote “he was stirring up waves in a ladle.”

            Most tempests in teapots are self serving temper tantrums disguised as what is vitally important in the world today.  Many times they have to do with self interest groups who want their own way or lobbyists who are watching the bottom line.  The phrase sure does apply to much of the news today.  Things get stirred up that aren’t really important and the real issues go unnoticed.  

            I guess it’s important to look at all sides of an issue before spouting off.  You could be right or you could be stirring a storm in a cream bowl.

            hmmm…..