0
Oliver01 Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
What does this sentence really mean.
it was either that or Sacred Cow, and I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste.
I read it a few times but I still have a hard time figuring out what the point is.
It's by Christopher Hitchens btw
I read it a few times but I still have a hard time figuring out what the point is.
It's by Christopher Hitchens btw
Top answer
The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice Regarding the title's double entendre, Hitchens remarked, "it was either that (The Missionary Position) or Sacred Cow, and I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste. "Missionary Position" is a double entendre, but "Sacred Cow" is also a double entendre. Hitchens quipped ("bad taste" is also a double entendre) that in his opinion, the second choice was a more egregious faux pas than the first, so that's how he named the book.
- The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice Regarding the title's double entendre, Hitchens remarked, "it was either that (The Missionary Position) or Sacred Cow, and I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste.
- "Missionary Position" is a double entendre, but "Sacred Cow" is also a double entendre.
- Hitchens quipped ("bad taste" is also a double entendre) that in his opinion, the second choice was a more egregious faux pas than the first, so that's how he named the book.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
14 Answers
0
The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice
Regarding the title's double entendre, Hitchens remarked, "it was either that (The Missionary Position) or Sacred Cow, and I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste.
"Missionary Position" is a double entendre, but "Sacred Cow" is also a double entendre. Hitchens quipped ("bad taste" is also a double entendre) that in his
Regarding the title's double entendre, Hitchens remarked, "it was either that (The Missionary Position) or Sacred Cow, and I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste.
"Missionary Position" is a double entendre, but "Sacred Cow" is also a double entendre. Hitchens quipped ("bad taste" is also a double entendre) that in his
00
It is slightly more clear but I still don't get it. Unless you are willing to dumb it down more, I just have to read it over and over again.
Why is he saying would be in bad taste ?
I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste
Why is he saying would be in bad taste ?
I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste
00
Well, to get the joke, you have to know what a double entendre is, and then figure out how those two expressions qualify.
Hitchens was being quite irreverent in giving his book a title. (Mother Theresa is in the process of being canonized to sainthood, which makes it even more ironic.)
His quip tells us that the title was no accident.
Hitchens was being quite irreverent in giving his book a title. (Mother Theresa is in the process of being canonized to sainthood, which makes it even more ironic.)
His quip tells us that the title was no accident.
00
Oliver01I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad tasteMother Theresa practiced her charity and saintliness in India. Cows are sacred animals in the Hindu religion. It is strongly forbidden to taste (eat) them.
And that evokes a contrast with Mother Theresa's faith in which literally eating the flesh and drinking the blood of a sacred animal is a holy ritual
00
Okay - I apologize if this offends anyone.
Mother Theresa was, as you know, a missionary in India.
Cows are sacred in India.
The "missionary position" is a sexual position.
A "sacred cow" is also an expression that means "a topic/issue that so many people [or very important people] think is so important that it can't be touched or talked badly about."
Both book
Mother Theresa was, as you know, a missionary in India.
Cows are sacred in India.
The "missionary position" is a sexual position.
A "sacred cow" is also an expression that means "a topic/issue that so many people [or very important people] think is so important that it can't be touched or talked badly about."
Both book
00
BarbaraPAEDIT: I took too long to write, so A Stars beat me to it.But you added the juicier parts.
00
It makes way more sense now.. I almost got it..hopefully it will still be funny after I full understand it.
And that evokes a contrast with Mother Theresa's faith in which literally eating the flesh and drinking the blood of a sacred animal is a holy ritual.
so Mother Theresa would be ok with eating cows in india? In other words she was against the whole belief in sacred animal
And that evokes a contrast with Mother Theresa's faith in which literally eating the flesh and drinking the blood of a sacred animal is a holy ritual.
so Mother Theresa would be ok with eating cows in india? In other words she was against the whole belief in sacred animal
00
Oliver01so Mother Theresa would be ok with eating cows in india? In other words she was against the whole belief in sacred animals.The joke has nothing to do with Mother Theresa herself.
It only concerns Hitchens' rather droll sense of humor in giving his books a catchy title.
00
One last point to consider: "cow" is also a rude word for a woman, as in "You stupid cow." Just one more way that title would have been badly received.
00
I would guess that Hitchens was explicitly making reference to mother Theresa in both titles.
Her position as a missionary was that it was better that one starve in faith than prosper in atheism.
Mother Theresa was so revered by certain segments of christianity that to speak ill of her was unthinkable, thus a "sacred cow"
The aspect of eating the flesh of a holy creature (christ) in in
Her position as a missionary was that it was better that one starve in faith than prosper in atheism.
Mother Theresa was so revered by certain segments of christianity that to speak ill of her was unthinkable, thus a "sacred cow"
The aspect of eating the flesh of a holy creature (christ) in in
0
Related Questions