"Pissing into the wind"

- or, "how to get your own back"!

 

"To be doing something totally pointless, fruitless, or futile; to be wasting one's time doing something that will not or cannot come to pass."

The English word "piss", though not a swear word, may be regarded, in polite or religious society and conversation, as earthy or vulgar. Conversely, when out with the boys, to say, "I need to micturate" or "urinate", would be regarded as likely inappropriate and effeminate and invite ridicule. 

It therefore has masculine, rather than feminine, connotations and accurately conveys the primitive but essential natural physiological process, common to all mammals, of periodically, emptying the bladder. 

It also suggests waste and futility. In this connection who can forget Boris Johnson's use of the parallel phrase 'spaffed up against the wall" in reference to the money 'wasted' on the child abuse enquiry. That he 'spaffed' five hundred billion on Covid is conveniently ignored! https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-squirms-wont-say-20334382

'Pissing into the wind' not only suggests futility but also retribution. What I ask could be more futile than mutual destruction of people and things? What is more likely than getting your own back if you piss into the wind? Does anyone sympathise when the aggressor or bully gets beaten up?

The term 'pissed' is applied in other contexts. One can be 'pissed off' i.e. severely dissatisfied and disappointed. You can tell someone to 'piss off', meaning to go away with a thinly disguised threat of physical violence if not obeyed. In England saying "I'm pissed' would probably mean under the influence of alcohol, whereas in America it would be taken to mean just 'annoyed'. So the word, though socially questionable can have several meanings and be contextually powerful.

Given its impolite character, it may surprise some to learn that its roots or etymology is ancient, appearing in the Hebrew Torah, or what in the West we know as the 'Old Testament'. It may in fact be the oldest written reference to the act.  In essence it indicates maleness but its biblical inference goes deeper. 

There are six references to "them that pisseth against the wall" (1 Sam. 25:22; 1 Sam. 25:34; 1 Kings. 14:10. 1 Kings 16:11; 1 Kings 21:21; 2 Kings 9:8) and all refer to a curse of excommunication or annihilation by God on those to whom it was directed.

In the 17th Century King James Version, reflecting perhaps as much its times as the original, the 'Bible Hub' has this:

"שָׁתַן or 'shathan' appears only in the stereotyped phrase “one who pisseth against the wall,” an earthy idiom that marks out a male. Far from casual vulgarity, the expression functions as a vivid forensic marker: the entire male line of a household is placed under sentence of elimination. The image of a male relieving himself while standing, is concrete, memorable, and unmistakably gender-specific; its rhetorical power lies in evoking the total extinction of a family’s future and its name within Israel."

"שָׁתַן serves as more than a colloquialism; it is a theological signpost. In six strategic passages the phrase brands covenant infidelity with a verdict of irreversible loss, validating the prophets, safeguarding redemptive history, and admonishing every generation to walk in humble obedience before the God who both forms and ends dynasties according to His righteous will."

(Source: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8366.htm . Strong's Concordance)

There are parallels with Benjamin Netanyahu's much publicised reference to Hamas, and by extension, to all Gazans and Palestinians, as 'Amaleks' and the injunction from Deuturonomy for the Israelites to completely eliminate them - to "blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

What the world has witnessed and is witnessing, is a political entity demonstrating its vicious and callous disregard for human life and society, justifying it by reference to ancient writings and a mythic ancient past. The irony that it is perpetrated by a cardre of largely atheistic central Euopean immigrants with no spiritual or ancestral connection to those ancient Israelites, is lost on both the current Israeli citizens and their American right wing Christian backers. 

Indeed it now appears from all accounts, that an evangelical, messianic ideology - whether genuine or not is still to be decided - has infected the White House and Pentagon, strangely even adopting an 'Amalekitic' philosophy to justify a random killing of civilian innocents across the board in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere. 

How this can be reconciled with the teachings of Christ beats me. Much of American and European 'Christian values' can only be   regarded as a corrupt abberation. Even the theology is utterly misguided.

Apparently the Trump-led, 'MAGA', American political right, represented by individuals like Pete Hesketh and Mike Johnson implement religion to inform and justify their political and military decision making, blurring what is supposed to be the Constitutional separation between Church and State. regular 'prayer meetings' are said to be held in the Pentagon, to which top officials are 'invited' to attend. (Woe betide them if they do not)  https://revivalnation.com/blog/2025/06/03/pete-hegseth-to-hold-monthly-pentagon-prayer-meetings/

There is little doubt a confluence of Christian, Jewish-Christian and Jewish groups in America, despite their subtle differences, have influenced political power in support of the State of Israel. The support seems to outweighed any reservations they might have had regarding the propietary nature or morality of killing innocent people en masse.

Nor does it seem the evangelical Israel-supporting lobby distinguish between the Jewish claim to be 'God's chosen race' and the New Testament narrative of it ceasing with the rejection of Christ as Messiah and the new covenant with the Church to be the 'new Bride of Christ' and God's new chosen race. Of course this is vehemently rejected by orthodox Jews, although there is a new messianic Christian Jewish movement that attempt to reconcile the two. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Judaism  

It makes for a complicated tapestry of belief and leanings. We must also point out there is a small but principled orthodox and secular Jewish opposition to the State of Israel and its actions. See: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/war-gaza-jewish-opposition-israel-as-old-as-zionism

I began this piece with the rather obvious and bad taste funny aphorism, that a sure way of getting your own back is to piss into the wind. These sayings often encapsulate truths that pages of prose fail to do. It contains the notion that stupidity of action quickly results adverse consequences; if you ignore experience and intuition you end up wet; that if you are going to piss, make sure reason and zeitgeist is on your side; if you poke someone in the eye, don't be surprised if they punch you on the nose!

If Israel had not been imposed on Palestine by the Western countries as propitiation for western sins; if Israel's misdeeds had not been supported and excused by America and Europe over generations after 1948; if at the same time of creating Israel a State of Palestine had been recognised; if Mohammad Mosaddegh's democratic government in Iran had not been overthrown in 1953 to ensure western control of the oil; if the Suez fiasco had not happened; etc. etc. Iran would not have gone the way it has or have been treated so badly by the west.

Increasingly Americans are realising, too late, the mess they have been sucked into by the over-weaning power of the Jewish lobby and its control of the current crackpot President by bribary and blackmail. Epstein, whether alive or dead, the Mossad agent or asset is woven into the mix. The deep state and military as always doing what they do best or worst.

Yet again, systems designed to keep the peace have failed. Thousands if not millions will suffer because of the intransigence and stupidity of a few. There is a saying, "When you are in a hole, stop digging". From every angle this was an arrogant and inexcusable American/Israeli aggression and no one should be surprised that Iran is prepared to fight to the death to defend itself and its population of ninety millions. 

Will Trump be prepared to eat humble pie and accept defeat? Will Israel learn its lesson and seek genuine raproachment? Will on the other hand, the opponents double down and slide uncontrollably towards a disaster for us all? I suppose as always, time will tell.