Pungent Phrases in the Press

NMB, Florida September 16, 2001 A.H. Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.

PUNGENT PHRASES IN THE PRESS

This morning's Op Ed page of the New York Times was filled with striking
pungent phrases, a few of which I have collected below. If words were
weapons, and they are, they have wounded us more than the cowards who used
our own airplanes to bring down our proud edifices. Our words show that we
try to understand, as we must express our pain.

.destroy and demoralize

.cripple and corrupt

.victims of an elusive foe

.primitive defense

.unsafe perimeters

.compromise our principles of freedom and openness

.we must retaliate

.we must reconfigure our defenses

.penny pinching that added up to disaster

.nickel and dime crucial public services

.starving the public sector while politicians posture against "big
government"

Do you see where this is going? What do you think?
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.