Undeserving of the Name

Today’s For Better or For Worse shows Liz at the farewell feast and it is revealed that the giveaway, which was previously espoused by Constable Paul Wright as a great honour is in fact not the main event of this gathering. This made sense, because giveaways are as common as flies. The main event is actually giving Elizabeth a spirit name. It is hard to comprehend what this means, but let me lay it out in Christian terms – It means God (Gichi-Manitou or Great Spirit) knows you’re alive and is going to take care of things when you die. In other words, it is the same as a baptism for a Christian, where the church only lets in Natives and very special guests. A number of websites had persons who described the spirit names in terms of being able to heal and provided them inspiration and direction for their entire lives. This is, in fact, a huge honour, unlike the giveaway which is essentially free for anyone who happens to show up at a powwow. And the kicker of all this, is that the recipient of this honour is someone whom Vivian Crane just laid into some weeks ago as being a flippant Southerner on a vacation. This is someone who Gary Crane was encouraging to leave to make a space for Susan Dokis. Because Jesse Mukwa and his auntie Marg seem to be the authors of this ceremony, it only makes sense, if auntie Marg wields a big stick in the Mtigwaki community. Because when Liz announced she was leaving, only Marg, Jessie, Ellen and Paul Wright were upset. Marg as a power-wielder is very possible. She, at the urging of Jesse, was the catalyst to get the whole town out to that star gazing thing. It is reasonable then that this honour being bestowed on Liz by Jesse and Marg was only made possible because Marg made a big giant stink that she wanted it, and crushed anyone that might have opposed it.

So, today in April’s Real Blog, aside from going on the same tangent as every other FBoFW commentary, by making up funny Indian names for Liz, I also took the approach to try to explain what the spirit name is, why it was unusual for Liz to get one, and the constable also pointed out this all came about because of Jesse and Marg. Yes, Lynn Johnston, once again I am covering these giant, enormous plot holes you are leaving behind. If you wanted to thank me, you could try drawing Liz so she looks like an attractive woman again, instead of like her brother.

No Howard Kelpfroth's Blog tomorrow night. I will be helping my wife and kids pack up things in Glendale.