It's In The Stars

I saw, for the first time 'The Plough' the other day. No, not the pub just down the road from me, but the constellation. I was really proud. I'd never managed to spot the arrangements of the stars, so I felt a sense of glee. Silly I know, but I did anyway.

This highlighted to me a difference between most of the world and America.

Take the British name for this constellation 'The Plough', indicating the hard working man, the strong horse, fertilising the fields of the sky, awaiting the fruitful crop of their toil, hard gotten but well deserved. This is the British way, even in the sky. Another name indicated is 'The Great Bear'. An animal of enormous strength and dignity. Plus, everyone loves a great big cuddly teddybear, don't they? The Germans call it 'Grosser Wagen', or 'The Great Wagon', a sign of travelling and change, for hope for the future as anyone who looks for it.

Now lets look at the American name 'The Big Dipper'. Let me get this straight... the brightest seven stars in Ursa Major and you name it after an instrument for frying chips? Sorry, not just any old instrument for frying chips. A REALLY BIG one. Why doesn't McDonalds just buy it, we'll call it the Big McDipper and have done with it.

Bobbikk