The phrase "Ding dong the witch is gone" is a popular expression used to celebrate the departure or removal of someone who is seen as negative or problematic. It originates from the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," where the Munchkins sing the song after the wicked witch is killed by Dorothy. This phrase is often used in a light-hearted and humorous manner to express relief or joy when someone or something that is disliked or causing trouble is finally out of the picture. It can be seen as a form of catharsis or release from a difficult or challenging situation. The phrase has become a popular saying and has been referenced in various forms of media, including songs and memes. It is typically used to express a sense of triumph or satisfaction over the removal of someone who is perceived as an obstacle or menace.
Faith Rogers, an environmental-science intern and volunteer at the Heavener Runestone Park, led me down a cobblestone path toward one of the 55-acre woodland's biggest attractions – which is also one of the US' biggest historical mysteries. We were deep in the rolling, scrub-forest foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in far eastern Oklahoma, and we were on our way to view a slab of ancient sandstone that still has experts scratching their heads and debating about the eight symbols engraved on its face.
Faith Rogers, an environmental-science intern and volunteer at the Heavener Runestone Park, led me down a cobblestone path toward one of the 55-acre woodland s biggest attractions which is also one of the US biggest historical mysteries. However, the message that Nordby deciphered shows that Rune messages were also used playfully among friends the 900-year-old message he deciphered is a romantic message that reads kiss me.
It is typically used to express a sense of triumph or satisfaction over the removal of someone who is perceived as an obstacle or menace. While it may not be the most politically correct phrase and can be seen as dismissive or derogatory towards individuals, it continues to be used in colloquial language to convey a sense of relief or victory..
The mysterious Viking runes found in a landlocked US state
Did Vikings find their way to a remote part of Oklahoma? Some in a small community believe so, thanks to controversial runic carvings found in the area.
"[Farley] spent the majority of her adult life researching the stone," said Amanda Garcia, Heavener Runestone Park manager. "She travelled all around the US, went to Egypt and went to different places looking at different markings."
Faith Rogers, an environmental-science intern and volunteer at the Heavener Runestone Park, led me down a cobblestone path toward one of the 55-acre woodland's biggest attractions – which is also one of the US' biggest historical mysteries. We were deep in the rolling, scrub-forest foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in far eastern Oklahoma, and we were on our way to view a slab of ancient sandstone that still has experts scratching their heads and debating about the eight symbols engraved on its face.
Some believe that these cryptic inscriptions are runes (ancient alphabetical characters) carved into the towering stone circa 1000 CE by Norse explorers who travelled up the Arkansas River to this remote part of landlocked America.
"Do I think the Vikings carved this? I do," said Rogers, as we stood in the protective wood-and-glass "house" built around the 3m-by-3.6m slab. "[Local historian] Gloria Farley spent her whole life researching this, and she has a lot of evidence to back it up."
Farley – who grew up in the town of Heavener where the runestone was found and who passed away in 2006 – is a legend in these parts. She first saw the relic while hiking as a young girl in 1928 and was fascinated by it. Two decades later, she returned to study it, as an amateur runologist and self-taught epigraphist.
The first modern knowledge of the runestone dates to the 1830s, when it was found by a Choctaw hunting party. For years, white Oklahomans called it Indian Rock, mistakenly thinking that the carvings were Native American.
"[Farley] spent the majority of her adult life researching the stone," said Amanda Garcia, Heavener Runestone Park manager. "She travelled all around the US, went to Egypt and went to different places looking at different markings."
Gloria Farley first saw the Heavener Runestone while hiking as a young girl in 1928; here, she is with her sons in 1971 (Credit: Courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society)
She even contacted the Smithsonian only to find that they'd already made their conclusion back in 1923: they said the characters were of a Scandinavian language, and read "GNOMEDAL," or "gnome" and "dal", translated as "sundial valley" or "monument valley". Other scholars afterwards translated the symbols as "GLOMEDAL," meaning "Glome's Valley." So that cleared up the question of what language it was, but left two other questions unanswered: who carved those symbols, and when?
"I began to believe that the symbols on the stone indicated that Norsemen had visited the area before the time of [Christopher] Columbus. I renamed the rock 'The Heavener Runestone' and began my search for similar inscriptions in the area," Farley wrote in her book In Plain Sight: Old World Records in Ancient America.
Heavener Runestone Park is in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in far eastern Oklahoma (Credit: Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department)
Throughout her career, Farley consulted with Norse historians, geologists and other epigraphists. She gathered evidence that supported her claim that Vikings had visited North America and were more than capable of travelling up rivers and creeks in longboats that could float in shallow water.
"A study of the fascinating Norse sagas revealed the efforts of the Norse inhabitants of Greenland to colonise the eastern coast of America from approximately 1002 until 1010 [CE]," she wrote. "If the Vikings had sailed to Russia, Ireland, England, France and to the far end of the Mediterranean, why would it have been impossible for them to reach Oklahoma via the Mississippi River?"
Ultimately, Farley led the charge that Vikings sailed inland from the Gulf of Mexico 600 to 800 years ago and left their mark in this canyon. Two additional sandstone slabs, each with runic markings (not enough to be translated), were found a mile north and a mile south of the Heavener Runestone, which park officials say indicates that the carvings were boundary markers.
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Reviews for "Learning from the Witch's Removal: Lessons for Future Leaders"
1. John - 1 star - I found "Ding dong the witch is gone" to be extremely disappointing. The humor fell flat and the story was lacking any depth or substance. The characters were one-dimensional and I didn't feel any connection to them. Overall, it was a forgettable experience and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful comedy.
2. Emily - 2 stars - While "Ding dong the witch is gone" had some funny moments, I ultimately found it to be a shallow and predictable film. The plot was unoriginal and the jokes seemed forced. The acting was mediocre at best, with most of the characters delivering their lines without any real conviction. Overall, it was a forgettable comedy that failed to live up to my expectations.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't wait for "Ding dong the witch is gone" to be over. The humor was crass and juvenile, relying too heavily on cheap gags and toilet humor. The dialogue was poorly written and the comedic timing was way off. The characters were annoying and unlikeable, making it difficult to root for anyone. I found myself checking my watch multiple times throughout the film, hoping it would end soon. Save your money and skip this one.
4. Alex - 2 stars - "Ding dong the witch is gone" had its moments, but overall it fell short for me. The comedy felt forced and the plot lacked originality. The characters were cliché and there was little nuance or depth to their development. While it had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I would recommend looking elsewhere for an enjoyable comedy.