Passion

“Passion is no ordinary word, (I think I love you).

Passion is no ordinary word,  (I tell you baby).

Passion is no ordinary word,

ain’t manufactured or just another sound that you hear at night.”

In it’s purest form passion is exceptional, as sung by Graham Parker. However now days, passion has become a cheapened substitute for bluster, chutzpah, intimidation or manipulation.

On Monday evening a young woman lugging a travel case climbed in the cab whilst sobbing on the phone.  “But why can’t I stay at your place...what happens if I get stabbed walking the streets...I don’t care about your parents...no, I’m not coming just as a some friend...it's got nothing to do with their culture or being Muslim... you tell them I’m the girl you love and want to marry.” She alighted at an Edgecliffe motel, still pleading and distraught.

Then last night an older Hungarian woman related how she controls her adult and recalcitrant son. In a thick accent she explained, “Darlink, you put your foot on their neck and only give them one choice. Simple.” What she omitted, of course, was the accompanying melodrama essential to positioning that foot...the hysterics and wild gesticulations common to many cultures. “How could you do this to me, your own mother !?” Simple.

Once I remarked to an elderly Russian passenger that maybe the only quality Australians lacked was overt passion. She scoffed at the suggestion, “Non, this is a good thing. Passion tears families apart; friends fight; people kill from passion. Non, non, passion no good.”

Now we’ve got passion sorted, back to the wonderful Graham Parker. Thirty something years ago a cabbie mate picked Parker up from the Airport. He asked, “You’re Graham Parker, aren’t you ?” After a punishing thirty hour flight from England Parker was certainly in no mood for conversation, and collapsed in the back seat he simply drawled, “Yeah.” Unperturbed my mate asked, “Does your father make Parker pens ?” “Very funny, buddy.” The trip was completed in sullen silence. Welcome to Australia.

'Passion is no ordinary word' on YouTube.

Comments

[Anthony]

Oh, don't get me started. At work we are told that "we are passionate about what we do" and the word "passion" is bandied about regularly. I asked my manager what this really meant given that passionate means characterised by strong emotions such as love, hate, anger, and joy. I asked which emotion he thought I was most likely to exhibit if I had to be "passionate about customer service". I guess that might explain why I haven't had a promotion in 7 years...

[Caroline]

A wise old bird the Babushka.

Good question Anthony.

[pat]

One of my many bosses said in response to a question from todays vendor presentation about whether he has kids and do they obey him: "They do what they're told or else I hit em across the head."

Yesterday I rocked up at 1300 or so after another fucked up install and the boss asked "How'd it go?" I answered "The customer is angry and doesn't want to pay." He said "Open Outlook and write them this..." Stunned I said "You want to write an email go write it on your laptop."

After 2 hours of counselling all I can say is: passion? passion? You want fucking passion?!