It is a sad commentary on today’s world that the joyous trills, warbling melodies that we hear in public spaces these days are mostly avian generated. Granted, life is busier than ever, fears and concerns raised by terrorist acts have generated a suspicious attitude towards other people. Caution and rectitude seem to govern action.
It was not so long ago, that public expressions of happiness and joy, expressing delight over a wonderful spring day or satisfaction about a project well-completed brought not only a bounce to one’s step, but a perky pucker of the kisser and a sprightly whistle. Why, some people even broke out into song. Think about some old Hollywood movies, where people sang in the rain, did the soft-shoe through puddles, bounced happily along. Many must recall walking home after work or from school, and hearing adults whistle joyous tunes.
Those were perhaps more carefree times, although many might want to contest that premise. The Cold War was no picnic, and the reconstruction of Europe after WW II gave little cause to celebrate, as memories of terror were still fresh. Still, whistling was not a social faux pas, as it has seemed to become.
Tongue in cheek, one awaits for Robert Pirsig to channel his attention towards Zen and the Art of Whistling. There is a Zen-like feel that a happy trill can produce. Zen focuses on self-discipline, mediatation and attainment of enlightenment by direct intuition, often through means of paradoxical statements that make one think, meditate in a religious manner.
Indeed, it is paradoxical that public expression of glee, contenment, just feeling one with the world is seen askance by the straightlaced majority. When was the last time that you heard a TTC cleaner whistle while sweeping up the thoughtless Starbucks- generated commuter litter from a subway platform? (Maybe it is because those same caffeine-fueled jittery people en route to their daily drudgery do not know how to be happy?)
Indeed, drudgery dominates, happiness at work, the type that generated the song “Whistle while you work” seems an endangered beast. Granted, office workers do not have the same opportunities as construction workers, physical labourers, among whom work day whistling was more common.
Perhaps one needs to be from a sun-drenched culture. Mediterranean people are much more likely to crack jokes, sing and whistle, than those raised in northern climes, where serious sobriety rules. It is not surprising that in Italian to whistle a tune is fischiare un’ aria. Note - an aria, not a tune. Those opera lovers have respect for music, generated by voice or whistling. Italians also have different names for different types of whistling - fischierellare is to whistle between one’s teeth. And although some feminists - and with some justification - find wolf whistles to be offensive and chauvinistic there are probably a greater number of women who appreciate that their beauty and style is noticed by the opposite gender. It’s all in the delivery, you know - a genuine whistle delivered complete with twinkling eye need not be lascivious or perverted. PC has taken over here, for worse rather than better.
For indeed, there are two types of whistling. the happy ones noted above, including the “hey pretty mama” type. And then there is the flip side, known as whistle blowing.
Politics and the Fine Art of Whistle Blowing. Now there’s a book that Pirsig would never write. The roots of the term come from the negative attention-demanding aspect of whistling. A loud clear blast from a referee’s whistle signifies an infraction of some sorts, and the attention generated demands reaction. A stoppage in play, or time served in the penalty box, evicted with a red card from the soccer pitch.
In politics whistle blowing is often the last resort of employees, opposition party members, concerned members of the public using the attetntion grabber, often as a last resort. Take the example of the concerned FBI agent that did the unthinkable and exposed incompetence in the organization regarding the available information given to the FBI pre-9/11 . This issue is addressed in more detail in today’s Estonian editorial.
Or consider as well that most democratic nations have an official whistle-blower. Call them Privacy Commisioners, Ombuds or Auditor Generals, these appointed officials serve to provide checks and balances on governmental powers and to protect the rights of the individual.
From a libertarian perspective this is just as it should be. Libertarianism is not only a doctrine of free will that desires the least amount of governmental interference in a citizens life. It also asks that all people be treated alike, no preference be given to others.
Sadly, this is not the case in most democratic countries. The abuses of power by the governing Liberal party in Canada have not resulted in much more than dismissals from Cabinet, slaps on the wrist. Prime Minister Chrétien dismisses missing millions, misdirected billions when considering the Jane Stewart HR scandal, as chump change, mere petites arachides. After “serving” the country for as long as he has Chrétien does not need to worry about his financial future when (if?) he finally gets eased out of government, preferably with a swift kick to the nether regions as is the fervent desire of most electors living west of Ontario.
The Soviet Union also generated lots of protests against abuse of power. Nicholas Lampert’s recent book “Whistle blowing in the Soviet Union: complaints and abuses under state socialism” should be a must read for those people who cannot see the threat to democracy posed by the likes of Chrétien and the FBI. Fortunately, however, the existence of whistle-blowers should prevent totaluitarian tule from becoming reality here.
It may be a little too optimistic, even naive to think that if we all expressed happiness openly, then we would have less problems politically and economicaly. Yet without a doubt, it will improve the individual existence when one has the courage to whistle while strolling on the boardwalk, city street, or the esplanade.
Estonians say “ ma vilistan selle peale” - I whistle on /at it - to express disregard, saying I do not care about trifling issues. In a nutshell: less bitching, more happy whistling, that’s what this world needs.
Editorial: Whistle while you work
Arvamus
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