Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Oct. 12, 2005

Schweitzer, C-SPAN and "Tradition"

The final sentence in last week's column on Albert Schweitzer quoted the words of a review of his autobiography, Out of My Life and Thoughts. "Few books in our time have had a greater impact on the life and values of untold numbers of people." An e-mail from Dick Braun gave credence to that statement. Braun said he had read much about and by Schweitzer in high school, and when he started college, it was with the intent of becoming a medical missionary. Inspired by Schweitzer's life, Braun spent 21 years working in a rural hospital in Ghana.

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When, 25 years ago, C-SPAN joined the television scene, I doubt many realized what a treasure it would become. The promise that all sessions of Congress would be covered seemed dull fare indeed, but learning it was a station void of commercials was something new. Between sessions of Congress the spotlight turned to public affairs. Knowledgeable guests enlighten listeners and answers their telephone questions. Unlike other channels, the conversation is calm. There are no loud voices talking over each other.

Books and authors hold sway on weekends. Special events are covered beginning to end without commentators or commercials. Recently, I was home and able to watch the entire farewell ceremony for Gen. Myers as he left his post. The pageantry of bands, flags and uniformed troops parading on the grounds at Fort Myer, VA, was a show of discipline and deep respect for the long history of service to the country. Cynics may call me corny, but I respect my heritage and I love my country.

Without the vision of one man, Brian Lamb, there never would have been a C-SPAN. Two national treasures!

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Because I'm old-fashioned, the song "Tradition" from Fiddler On the Roof has always been a favorite. We have so many different backgrounds in our country we have just as many different traditions.

One of my press friends publishes a newspaper in Cajun country in Louisiana. Occasionally she sends me a copy and I read it cover to cover. Weddings are reported in detail with lengthy descriptions and they will most certainly be saved as family history. As I read the story of one wedding, a member of the wedding party was named as the whisperer for the bride and another for the groom. I was familiar with horse whisperers, but part of a bridal party? My friend explained the whisperers were there to act as prompters should the stars forget their words.

Several days ago, I learned about another wedding custom I had not known about. I overheard the story in a most unlikely place. I was at the hospital to have a scan of my neck. This meant being placed in a rather uncomfortable position for thirty minutes as the machine did its work.

It was a welcome distraction to listen to the voice of one of technicians as she told her colleagues about her trip to New York City to attend a Muslim wedding.

The night before the wedding, all the women gathered for a henna ceremony as practiced in the Middle East since ancient days. A paste made of powdered henna leaves was used through the ages as a cosmetic by Egyptian and Indian women to dye the skin, hair and fingernails an orange-red color. On this night before the wedding, this pasty mass was applied to the bride-to-be's body and swirled by the women's hands into artistic designs. The ugly stuff dried all night, then washed away in the morning leaving the bride's skin a work of art for three to four weeks.

Hearing about that ancient ritual transferred me to another level. How little we know about other cultures.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday. She may be reached at ebrush@frontiernet.net