Broken Thoughts

One of the most annoying thing people can do around me, other than driving like an idiot, is to use the phrase “samurai sword”.  Here is why using that term is incorrect, disrespectful, and completely idiotic.

1. If you see a western-style sword, you don’t call it a “knight sword.”  If you do, please don’t.

2. The real name is katana.  Use it.  Other perfectly acceptable terms include shinken (live blade), or Japanese sword.

3. The katana changed over hundreds of years.  It started out as a straight edge (like most western style or chinese swords) until it earned it’s curved edge.

4. The katana is to be reguarded with the utmost respect.  It is part of Japanese culture.  By calling it a samurai sword you are not giving the kanata the respect it deserves, and are disrespectful to those who train in Japanese sword arts.

5. Samurai actually carried two swords - the wakizashi and the katana.

6. Other classes were allowed to carry a single sword, the katana, up until the classes were seperated and all swords were taken from anyone who was not a samurai.  Samurai were the only class allowed to carry 2 swords.

7. It’s all about respect.  Call the katana by a propper name and I won’t call you an idiot (or beat you senseless with a bokken).

Thanks for the laugh. 

For the rest of you who weren’t there, allow me to explain.  Last night I was on my way home from sword practice.  At one point, the highway turns from 55 mph to 65 mph.  Ahead of me I could see a car dodging and weaving around the other light traffic.  Eventually, I passed him, but apparently it was the unholiest of sins to be passed.  He decided (with one headlight out), to try to block me in where the highway goes from three lanes to two lanes.  I managed to get a head of him, but this only seemed to make him angrier.  It was at this point that he decided to sit in my blind spot.
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