Our English language is rich with wonderful words. A fulsome vocabulary is a gift, for sure, bestowed on those who have been afforded an education that emphasizes the need for a well-stocked inventory of words. That said, being a prolix virtuoso or ostentatious in one’s word usage can be simply a turn-off. (I think I just did that.) Using the right word sparingly is more effective. But a string of them to show off is not particularly desirable. More bothersome to me is the misuse of words to manipulate or trick someone by using a word in a certain manner that is inaccurate.
Words: One of my pet peeves is the careless use of words. I often hear the term “our democracy” invoked by people who are associated with organizations that incorporate the word “democracy” or a form of it. It’s not incorrect to refer to “our democracy” in America. But it can have the effect of suggesting that our form of government is a pure democracy. It isn’t. We are a Constitutional Republic that selects our leaders via a democratic process, hopefully where voting is legal, orderly, and accurate. One could write volumes on the current state of that in America. But I digress. We don’t govern ourselves by a popular majority of the people. Greece did and it failed, which is why the Romans conceived of a republic, a representative government, empowered by the people.
They had a Constitution too, “The Twelve Tables”, or Leges Duodecim Tabularum or Duodecimo Tabulae, that listed the rights of citizens to keep their republic in line. I really may be making too much of the use of the phrase “our democracy”, but it would be refreshing to hear these people say the words “our republic” now and then. Who knows, maybe that would promote some discussion across America as to the true nature of our system.
Insults: No one likes to be insulted and in America today, it has become a routine practice, often relying on vulgarity and crudeness. There is no skill in that, aside from that found in stupidity and coarseness. If you feel the need to insult, subtlety might be more effective, especially when it’s deserved.
No one shapes a well-honed insult better than an Englishman with a rich vocabulary and sense of humor to accompany it. They are also gifted in the art of the understatement. I recall a British officer I met in 1975 while our units were conducting live fire training at Grafenwöhr, Germany. Over a beer one evening, our discussion turned to “officer evaluation reports” in our respective services, particularly those penned of sub-performers. A favorite of his was “This officer’s men would follow him anywhere…out of dire curiosity.” Or this: “This officer consistently attains the low standards he sets for himself.”
Americans are not pikers when it comes to a well-turned insult. My favorite is from American author Mark Twain. Of Congress he wrote, “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”
It would be refreshing if in our politics we could stick to genuine and respectful criticism of a person or policy. And if we felt the need to pitch an insult, try some British subtlety and a bit of humor. Which brings me to this.
Good Humor: Today in America, everybody is “offended”, or “outraged”, or “triggered” by the slightest reference to some word spoken, attitude displayed, or ideology or belief held. Moreover, there are people who actually believe that they have a “right” not to be offended. Never mind that a “right” implies a “remedy” in the law. Gone are the days when a person can let an offensive remark run off their back. I have endured many insults as a politician. Some unprintable. But I’ve also learned to roll with the punches and try not to take myself too seriously.
Once I recall—as a young lieutenant—walking about the battery motor pool “supervising” troops as they stenciled bumper numbers on our fleet of howitzers. Too busy trying to look “officious” and not watching were I was walking, I managed to step into a tray of white paint that promptly covered the lower half of my spit-shined boot! My troops couldn’t contain their laughter as I casually continued to walk as if nothing odd had occurred. But as I rounded the corner of a nearby building, I couldn’t help but erupt in laughter. It was clownish, and we’re supposed to laugh at clowns, aren’t we? It’s time for our society to lighten up a bit and laugh, even at ourselves.
We’ve been through a lot in 2020, the hard words of politics and insults stacked on top of each other. It’s time that we learned to laugh again, even at ourselves.
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