|
|
|
| Monday, September 26, 2011 |
 |
Be Clear
By webmaster @ 12:01 AM :: 304 Views ::
0 Comments :: Sister Carol Perry
|
 |
On the one hand, there are the new statistics that say the verbal scores of our American students are dismal, and, on the other hand, there are all the ingenious word dodges of politicians who cannot say anything in words comprehensible to the average citizen.
For example, a certain DSK went on the air in France to admit in a carefully orchestrated interviews, to a "moral failure" that sounded as if he had done nothing more than break a shoelace. What he seemed to regret most was not being able to run for President of France, not for having taken advantage of an immigrant employee of a hotel.
And then I listen to our elected representatives vainly using terms like "restructuring" and "reorganizing" to cover up the reality that they have just proposed doing away with programs and benefits for the poor.
Whatever would happen if, for one day only, we all spoke the truth in clear language, not in elaborate attempts to disguise what we are actually saying.
That might involve our telling a colleague that we "were wrong", not that we "misunderstood" or were "temporarily mentally aberrant."
That might involve a drug company's stating clearly that this drug has "very dangerous side effects", not enumerating a long list which dulls the hearing of the listener so that he misses the final "and possibly death."
That might involve a politican's saying what he would like to do and what concrete steps he would take to accomplish it, rather than offering yet another rant against his opponent with not a clear sentence for the listener.
I know we often speak in obtuse phrases to offend no one. The result is that we actually communicate with no one.
And so is it any wonder our high school students have stunted vocabularies? They have tuned out all us windy adults and they move on to sending the next text message in short form to a friend. That, at least, is succinct! |
|
|
|
|
| Comments |
Currently, there are no comments. Be the first to post one!
You must be logged in to post a comment. You can login here
|
|
|
|
|
Publishing Schedule:
| Sun. |
Dr. Brown |
| Mon. |
Sister Carol Perry |
| Tue. |
Nina Frost |
| Wed. |
Kenneth Dake |
| Thu. |
Elise Hanley |
Reading Our Blog:
New articles will go up regularly. The seven most recent posts are displayed on this main page. If you'd like to go back and read previous entries you missed, click on the "Categories" link at the top of the page and then select the author you're interested in. We don't delete old articles, so you'll be able to come back anytime and re-read the ones that speak to you in significant ways.
|
|
|