Radical “Then” and “Now”

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Joanne Edith

It used to be a basic arithmetic symbol

It used to be a marvelous model of molecular movement

It used to be a dreaded remedy; the unmentionable, feared procedure, to eliminate the invading cancer

It used to be something concrete

Tangible!

Fundamental!

Comprehensible!

Now, it is fear without a face

Now, it marks the madness permeating our reality

Now, radical nemeses wreak havoc and destruction; becoming the neurotic ‘normal’

Now it is indefensible:

Incomprehensible!

Unthinkable!

Terror!

I write this in response to Trifecta Challenge.Trifecta: Week Forty-Two: this week’s word is RADICAL (adjective)

1: of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: as a (1) : of or growing from the root of a plant <radical tubers>(2) : growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground <radicalleaves>b : of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root c : of or relating to a mathematical root d : designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue <radical surgery> <radicalmastectomy> 2: of or relating to the origin : fundamental 3a : very different from the usual or traditional : extreme b : favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions c : associated with political views, practices, and policies of extreme change d : advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs <the radical right>