February 15, 2023
Dear Editor,
Sometimes looking up old words seldom used today can be informative. Thus, see how the words are miss used in explaining actions by those would baffle or confuse opinions.
I often use the word “curmudgeon” to playfully describe myself to people. It is a word describing a grumpy old man. Using that word raises the curiosity of the individual I’m speaking to. It is a word not used today as it was 100 years ago.
By using the word, the individual I’m speaking to asked, “what is the word? What does it mean? Their not knowing the word I could tell them any meaning I want.
That’s where my Webster’s dictionary comes in.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez misuses words often. For instance when she complained about a description of the “surge” of migrants across the border she said, “these people are not insurgents”. She confused the two words. The “surge” refers to a wave influencing something. Such as, during a hurricane the coast may experience a tidal surge. Or the rushing of abnormally high volumes of water inundating the coastal areas.
An insurgent is not a “surge” but an armed invasive force who’s purpose is chaos.
To some, her use of the word may sound appropriate. Yet the two words are far apart from each other.
Politicians in general like to misappropriate words or misuse them because it sounds better to express their position and in turn confuse the public.
The last two years bares that out. President Biden has misled the public with his garbage about eliminating student loans. He further stated, in his State Of The Union address, stretching the truth about his influences in the rapid increase of inflation by referring the “world wide inflation rate”. I’m sure someone told him that was outside his authority. But he did it anyway. I believe Biden brought up the student loans to lead young voters to polls to keep the control of both the House of Representatives and Senate. I believe his world is in the surreal universe.(I always wanted to use that word. I had to look it up).
sur·re·al
adjective
1 having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre.”a surreal mix of fact and fantasy”
I put nothing passed him or his party.
This angered the masses. Pelosi, Schumer, Manchin all do this same.
I listen and, (ready for this?) cogitate the content of the speeches and form my opinion.
cog·i·ta·tion
noun
1 the action of thinking deeply about something; contemplation.”Sorry, did I interrupt your cogitation?” (I watch a lot of old westerns where these types of words and some old phrases are sometimes used).
If I use a word not used often in today’s speech I can confuse or bewilder the listener. Even to the point of a lack of interest. This causes the changing of tv channels from the news to Gunsmoke.
No one wants to hear their continuing garbage.
When someone uses a word I’m not familiar with, the old Webster’s is consulted.
I’m not an educated individual by any stretch of the imagination. But I do have natural curiosity. Particularly when a questionable character has a microphone or tv camera in their face trying to convey his or her reasonings by using words out of context.
On a lighter note, I’m changing my address to a Doddridge County address.
Finally I’m coming to where I like to refer as home.
There is a better class of people than I’ve been around for along time.
City slickers don’t get this lifestyle.
However, I love West Virginia and West Virginians.
My closest and dearest friends are here.
I would enjoy the chance to contribute to the county. Perhaps even serve.
I would welcome some input because, I do admire, respect the following list.
Our military,
Our various police agencies,
Our first responders,
And of course our medical professionals.
Lloyd Brightwell
curmudgeon at large