There were a lot of bills heard this week in Concord…. And there was much public comment that followed… Portions of which were outright lies and confabulation.
To support, or not support the legislation at hand….a particular bill.
I nearly always refer to any verbal address to committees as public comment, despite others who call it, “testimony“.
Many of our learned legislators use the words, “public comment” which is preferable to referring to comments as, “testimony.” They clearly understand the difference.
Being asked last week if I intended to give testimony in support of a particular bill, I responded, “no”. Upon leaving the table following my 40 seconds of commentary, that same person thought I had changed my mind….I said that I had not and that I did not give “testimony.” I merely commented on the bill. I was not sworn in and did not take any oath..That person was prompted to then retort, “same difference.” I explained the two were not the same.
For the origins of the word “Testimony,” we thank the ancient Romans to a great degree. In the Ancient Roman times when “testimony” was given, ,men held their testicles in their hand, for they regarded (testicles) as sacred. and to give testimony meant one was bearing the absolute truth
This custom is also mentioned in the Old Testament. In the King James translation, the passage reads, “And Abraham said: ‘unto his eldest servant of his house… Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear…'” Genesis 24:2
The aforementioned context is both instructive and appropriate in a contemporary society that emasculates free speech with political correctness codes and worries little about the varacity of the information they purport as truthful, accurate or reliable.
Its no wonder there was certain discomfort to shake my hand after my explanation. “Just sayin’…”
