A MATTER OF LANGUAGE

I have, with little humility, always fancied myself to be a student of language.
I quibble about words. I am horrified by misuse and mispronunciation. I am appalled at what the current generation, hot-wired to text-messaging, have done to language with their habits of mindless shortcuts.

But Iwill spare you a cranky old man lecture.

Tonight I watched President Obama field questions at his 100th day press conference. As always, his use of language is inspiring. The rising generation should be paying attention.

I do have one caveat: when asked by a reporter if he agreed with John McCain's position on immigration, he responded that McCain has the "right" idea. I believe, and I think Obama does too,m that nothing is a clear question of right or wrong (excepting such social abnormalities like murder and mayhem.)

I would have hoped that instead of saying McCain was right: - he should have said that the McCain approach is "appropriate" to the problemn.

The difference between the ideologue and the pragmatist, is that it is seldom any issue is either right or wrong. That's the way the ideolgue believes. He starts with a fixed notion and unswerivngly applies it to all decisions. It is a kind of intellectual straightjacket. Worse, it abdicates the responsibility to think. You simply follow iron-clad rules and reality takes care of itself.

The pragmatist is one who (and forgive me for telling you something you already know) examines every situation in terms of what shouold be done to alleviate, ameliorate, or modify. To reach, not the ultimate "right" conclusion, but to embark on a path of action that will "work."

Enough lecturing.

I return brielfy to my blog to make one point. And, while I'm at it, to l
tell yiouy that I will be out of the country until the end of Msay, home briefly, then away again to the end of June. I hope in my travels to bring new life and vigour to what I have to say based on what I will see and experience.