Words Mean Things

RUSH LIMBAUGH once said "words mean things." Actually , he said it more than once, and for once, Rush was right. Words do indeed mean things. Consider the American Civil War, our most sensational internal of conflicts, among the many we Americans seem to so fervantly enjoy. Before the war, when Americans spoke of their country, they said "The United States of America are." After the war, the phrase became "The United States of America is". Subtle, but profound change. The civiil war established one thing, above all else; the states of the united states are a single nation, an "is", rather than an "are", indivisible, with the federal government reigning, with liberty and justice, over all. No more state sovereignty, as in, Virginia and Masachussets govern themselves, first and foremost, before the central government steps in, the way it was viewed before the war. Now the central government comes first, no more ifs, ands, or buts. One little word switched, and a whole new meaning...Recently a friend of mine, a UFO enthusiast, made the following statement to me: "There are many humanoid species in this galaxy which are closely related to humanity, genetically." Wow. I thought that was a rather extraordinary statement, and I still do. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I suggested he amend his comment to say : "this galaxy may very well be inhabited by many species which are closely related to homo sapiens, genetically". World of difference there, simply by substituting " there may be" for "there are". He wouldn't have anything to do with it though; be is a true believer. True believers don't much care about using words accurately, it seems. Earlier today, the lady at the liquor store told me that when she was a little girl, the folks at her grade school told her that she was "gifted and talented." Ever the optimist, she took that to mean that she would soon be receiving gifts, possibly from all quarters. Never ending Christmas, just by being gifted! Instead of being gifted, she was tested, over and over again. The excitement soon wore off for her. You really can't blame her.