Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00050)

Dear Leon,

You wrote:

> Subject: Re: Theos-World Oblong Squares Part I
...............

> Very interesting.
>
> But in these descriptions, the word "square" refers solely to a plaza,
space
> or opening between buildings or roads which may either be oblong or square
> mathematically (or geometrically).  However the use of the words "oblong
> square" as a compound to describe the shape of a rectangular piece of
paper
> or palm leaf or plaque that is written on, cannot have the form of an
oblong
> square -- which is a contradiction in terms.  Such a rectangular shape may
be
> either square or oblong, but not both at the same time.
>


Leon, the main reason I presented those web pages in both
parts I and II, was to show that the phrase "oblong square" WAS
a legitimate phrase.  It was NOT something HPB made up and it was NOT a slip
of the pen, i,.e. a careless mistake she made that needed to be corrected by
some editor.  No doubt, HPB had this specific phrase in mind when
writing both the VOICE and her article.

It appears that you are NOW just quibbling over when the phrase should
be used.  Whether one is describing a plaza or a room or a piece of paper or
a palm leaf, why cannot one use the phrase "oblong square"?  A plaza or room
may be larger than a piece of paper or palm leaf, but the shape may be the
SAME
and therefore this term "oblong square" might be used to describe all four
things.

Plus there may be other hidden meanings here that HPB wanted to emphasize
as Peter and Tony have pointed out.  Have you considered the essay on
oblong numbers and their representation as "oblong squares" (?).

Can't you just admit that --- maybe just maybe --- you are wrong on this and
HPB may be right and actually knew what she was doing when she wrote
"oblong squares"?

But the more IMPORTANT point is:  why should some
editor change HPB's phrase "oblong squares" and not tell the
reader of that change?  If Boris de Zirkoff or some editor at
Wheaton TPH had done that very thing, I can imagine your
own response or that of Dallas or that of Jerome.

Tell us, Leon, if you WERE the editor of HPB's VOICE would you "correct"
her phrase "oblong squares" and NOT indicate to the reader that you were
doing that?  Would you?

Fraternally,

Daniel




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