Comments on: In the colonies, the locals quietly rebel against imperial attire http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/ A Mormon Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:39:41 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tatiana http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50483 Tatiana Sat, 23 Sep 2006 02:08:55 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50483 I like the idea of Sunday best for everyone, whatever that may be, and nobody should blink or notice no matter what anyone's Sunday best might happen to be, even if the Bishop shows up in a frogman suit or the RS president comes in a Carmen Miranda fruit-decorated hat. Think of it as a contest for who can best fail-to-notice the most alarming or outlandish attire that occurs. I think clothing is something we really shouldn't notice at all. Ditto with tattoos, piercings, hairstyles and facial hair. Everyone should wear their Sunday best, and whatever anyone wears, the rest of us should assume is their Sunday best. I like the idea of Sunday best for everyone, whatever that may be, and nobody should blink or notice no matter what anyone’s Sunday best might happen to be, even if the Bishop shows up in a frogman suit or the RS president comes in a Carmen Miranda fruit-decorated hat. Think of it as a contest for who can best fail-to-notice the most alarming or outlandish attire that occurs.

I think clothing is something we really shouldn’t notice at all. Ditto with tattoos, piercings, hairstyles and facial hair. Everyone should wear their Sunday best, and whatever anyone wears, the rest of us should assume is their Sunday best.

]]> By: John Mansfield http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50482 John Mansfield Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:23:24 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50482 Does ostentation, Kristine, seem to you a problem area among the sisters that needs more attention, or is it just a good teaching you always enjoy hearing preached? Does ostentation, Kristine, seem to you a problem area among the sisters that needs more attention, or is it just a good teaching you always enjoy hearing preached?

]]> By: Kristine http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50481 Kristine Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:52:07 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50481 Matt, I like your idea a great deal. I wish that when the sisters were counseled to dress "modestly," there could be a little more emphasis on dressing without ostentation, instead of merely ensuring that no hint of sexuality is telegraphed by one's clothing. Matt, I like your idea a great deal. I wish that when the sisters were counseled to dress “modestly,” there could be a little more emphasis on dressing without ostentation, instead of merely ensuring that no hint of sexuality is telegraphed by one’s clothing.

]]> By: Ronan http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50480 Ronan Wed, 20 Sep 2006 08:07:21 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50480 Matt speaketh wisdom. Matt speaketh wisdom.

]]> By: Matt Evans http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50401 Matt Evans Wed, 20 Sep 2006 06:22:39 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50401 I've been debating the white shirt question with myself for a long time. On the one hand I'm not fond of associating righteousness with color, or rewarding superficially conforming behavior. (Each time I encounter the "purity" argument I point out that's also an argument for white suits and shoes. I've yet to have them continue the purity argument.) I'm also partial to variety, and like colors and stripes and checks and discreet plaids. However, the argument for white shirts that resonates most with me centers on the absence of social signaling in a white shirt (at least in my American wards). When men wear white shirts, I don't know if they have one dress shirt or twenty. Someone could wear the same white shirt every week and no one would ever notice. Wearing any other color or pattern every week would eventually stand out, and make it obvious that they had only one (or only a few) shirt(s). For that reason I like to wear white because it best shields those who have no choice but wearing the same shirt every week. Our wearing different shirts every week is a luxury that signals our affluence and creates division. Right now I've struck a balance between showing solidarity with my one-shirt brothers, and resisting the Pharisees who think white shirts (but not white suits!) symbolize purity: I wear a non-white shirt every third or fourth week. I’ve been debating the white shirt question with myself for a long time. On the one hand I’m not fond of associating righteousness with color, or rewarding superficially conforming behavior. (Each time I encounter the “purity” argument I point out that’s also an argument for white suits and shoes. I’ve yet to have them continue the purity argument.) I’m also partial to variety, and like colors and stripes and checks and discreet plaids.

However, the argument for white shirts that resonates most with me centers on the absence of social signaling in a white shirt (at least in my American wards). When men wear white shirts, I don’t know if they have one dress shirt or twenty. Someone could wear the same white shirt every week and no one would ever notice. Wearing any other color or pattern every week would eventually stand out, and make it obvious that they had only one (or only a few) shirt(s). For that reason I like to wear white because it best shields those who have no choice but wearing the same shirt every week. Our wearing different shirts every week is a luxury that signals our affluence and creates division.

Right now I’ve struck a balance between showing solidarity with my one-shirt brothers, and resisting the Pharisees who think white shirts (but not white suits!) symbolize purity: I wear a non-white shirt every third or fourth week.

]]> By: YL http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50479 YL Wed, 20 Sep 2006 01:04:39 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50479 Lee M. 53 Your bishop probably chose to speak on dress standards in sacrament meeting because many youth were dressing sloppily, and because sacrament meeting was the one place that he could speak to both the youth and their parents without planning a separate meeting - and because he preferred to speak in general to the youth and their parents rather than single anyone out in a private meeting. His mentioning a few items that matched your wife was coincidental, and he mentioned them because if the youth would take care of those items, they would take care of their sloppy habits. You might want to mention to your wife that those particular items of attire in her case - unlike in the case of many youth - were not symbolic of sloppiness. Your bishop would probably be please if the sloppy youth looked as good as your wife. I think that you should mention your wife's reaction to the bishop, who will be anxious to make amends. Lee M. 53

Your bishop probably chose to speak on dress standards in sacrament meeting because many youth were dressing sloppily, and because sacrament meeting was the one place that he could speak to both the youth and their parents without planning a separate meeting – and because he preferred to speak in general to the youth and their parents rather than single anyone out in a private meeting. His mentioning a few items that matched your wife was coincidental, and he mentioned them because if the youth would take care of those items, they would take care of their sloppy habits.

You might want to mention to your wife that those particular items of attire in her case – unlike in the case of many youth – were not symbolic of sloppiness. Your bishop would probably be please if the sloppy youth looked as good as your wife.

I think that you should mention your wife’s reaction to the bishop, who will be anxious to make amends.

]]> By: Kristine http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50478 Kristine Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:27:16 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50478 john (77), I think at some point you're just going to have to accept the fact that someone, somewhere is pissed off at you (and blogging about it) ALL THE TIME, and just go on about your business. ;) john (77), I think at some point you’re just going to have to accept the fact that someone, somewhere is pissed off at you (and blogging about it) ALL THE TIME, and just go on about your business.
;)

]]> By: Steve Evans http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50477 Steve Evans Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:48:58 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50477 Seth, John Bytheway once took a BB right to the chest and it bounced right off his wrinkle-free Van Heusen button-down. I kid you not. This was memorialized in one of the "Tennis Shoes Amongst the Nephite" books. Seth, John Bytheway once took a BB right to the chest and it bounced right off his wrinkle-free Van Heusen button-down. I kid you not. This was memorialized in one of the “Tennis Shoes Amongst the Nephite” books.

]]> By: Ronan http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50476 Ronan Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:40:30 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50476 Seth, mate, THAT is classic. Seth, mate, THAT is classic.

]]> By: Seth R. http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/17/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50475 Seth R. Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:32:47 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/09/in-the-colonies-the-locals-quietly-rebel-against-imperial-attire/#comment-50475 John F, I don't think it matters what sort of nasty things Ronan might like to do to you. Your white shirt will protect you. I'm sure I could find an EFY talk verifying this fact... John F,

I don’t think it matters what sort of nasty things Ronan might like to do to you. Your white shirt will protect you.

I’m sure I could find an EFY talk verifying this fact…

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