I
suppose it’s time to purchase a new Dictionary. I prefer the paper printed one.
My
standby Dictionary, The American College Dictionary published in 1959, by
Random House of Canada Limited is outdated. Even though it has a Library of
Congress Catalog Card Number: 59-11184. All the words I need seem to be in this
dictionary. It has 1,421 pages and starts with the word “A”, (the first letter
of the English alphabet) and ends with “Zyrian” (Finno-Ugric language of the
Permian group).
I’m
not too much for new words when old words work. The problem with my Dictionary
is the old familiar words have new, unfamiliar meanings. Take “hero” for
example. My Dictionary defines “hero” as “a man of distinguished valor or
performance, admired for his noble qualities.” This definition reminds me of
safety officers (men and women), the brave servicemen raising the flag on Iowa
Jima, the people who went into the Twin Towers in an attempt to save people
trapped inside. Mother Teresa and her untiring work among the poor in India,
Dr. Martin Luther King who had a dream bigger than himself and Lou Gehrig,
diagnosed with (ALS), an incurable neuromuscular disorder upon his retirement
at age 36 was able to say, “I’m the luckiest man on the face of the earth."
For me, these are heroes.
But,
as I read, watch or listen to the news reporters define today's, heroes, I see
or hear a description other than people with distinguished valor or noble
qualities. Today heroes are the overpaid athletes who assault their spouses,
engage in rape and murder; the Hollywood star that takes off their clothing the
most and the most often, males who are now females and females who are now
males. The description of a shrewd businessperson is now defined by how much
they can get and how little they and their business give in return.
No
matter who becomes the 45th President, he or she will not fit my dictionary
definition of a “hero.” In the 50’s the President was described as a
politician; the same is true today. What we need is a “statesman or
stateswoman.”
I’ll
continue to open the door for my wife, pull out the chair for her in the
restaurant. I'll certainly shake the hands of service people I encounter and
thank them for their service, salute the flag, stand while the National Anthem
is being played or sung and attempt to contain my patriot emotions when the
Blue Angels do a flyover.
I
think I’ll also keep using my old dictionary.
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