This is on a par with a recent post on Iraq. When did The War in Iraq become The War Against Iraq?
I’ve gotten into more than my fair share of debates that have ended when the other side retreated to the tune of, “It’s only semantics!” The implication being A) that I’m flogging a dead horse and B) that the subject of the debate was something trivial. I find that response frustrating. If we cannot understand the words that others use, then there is no point in trying to communicate. Since human speech–a symbolic and highly abstract form of communication–is what separates us from the cute little animals, without it, we wouldn’t be human, would we? So, I tend to think semantics might be the only thing that really is important.
And so, I am saddened to hear The War in Iraq referred to as The War Against Iraq, because anyone possessing a rudimentary facility with the English language will recognize that the two things have entirely different meanings.
Also, I used the juice from both halves of a very large lemon in my ginormous iced tea this ayem. It is sour beyond belief, and that’s coming from someone who likes to eat lemons. Oops.
Also, too, it looks like my planned migration back to civilization might take place sooner, rather than later. More on that as events unfold. I will only say that I’m conflicted, as I love the country and the wee woodland critters, but I also miss having broadband and–dear lord, I’m almost afraid to contemplate it–cable teevee.
red paper boat 