Fluid Handle of Language

Contrary to conventional "wisdom", bragging, like porn, is "good" for the soul. It relieves loneliness, reinforces self-worth, and relaxes oneself. But it has to be based on facts, otherwise it is just empty lying. You can be your own most ardent fan. But you must not lie to others, and especially to yourself.

Read the following and understand why I regard myself of having a fluid handle of the English language. It"s not bad for a guy who, as a kid, had severe linguistic problems. 

"My dear friend:

I couldn't help but have a growing affection and respect for you based on your conduct thus far. A lesser man---and there have been at least five Mitchongs who have revealed themselves as such after engaging in a verbal warfare with me---would be pulling his hair out and take refuge in cheap sarcasms, outrageous lies, and gutter language to cover up his sense of inadequacy and, dare I say it, "defeat". I have such an effect on my inept interlocutors. You are far from being inept and you have conducted yourself admirably. My hat is off to you! 

My "accusation" of sophistry was leveled more at the writers that you quoted to support your interpretation of the phrase "illegal immigrant" than at you. You merely found a kinship with those writers and may have embraced their position and the supporting arguments a bit too enthusiastically. 

I don't want to rehash our intense but friendly semantic discourse on the adjectival phrase "illegal immigrants" either. You and I would be just repeating our respective positions. So I would like to do just two things:

1. Let's wait for about 15-20 years from now---hopefully we are both still alive and still blessed with mental acuity by then---to see if the phrase will still be in widespread currency as it is now, despite the distaste you and the majority of the Latino community have for it.

2. I took the liberty to enclose a brief exchange between another Mitchong whose name was deleted to protect his/her privacy, and me on the phrase.

 "Thanks so much for your prompt reply. It made me feel I was right in interpreting the phrase. As readers, we need to have empathy to the writer's intent as well as cultivating a sensitivity to the meanings of words and the context  in which the words appear, and avoid injecting our own personal interpretations or blindly following what others say what the words mean, Words mean what the majority users take them to mean. We must avoid the trap warned by Lewis Carroll, i.e., words mean whatever we want them to mean. 

Wissai

canngon.blogspot.com

On Jul 18, 2014, at 9:16 PM, wrote:

I think "illegal immigrants" is a legal term and it just says the immigrants enter the country "unlawfully" and that should be it. We should not read too much into the phase. The article I forward to you try to explore the reasons why people takes this unlawful action.

Sent from my iPad

On Jul 18, 2014, at 8:28 PM, wissai <wissai@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thanks for forwarding the article from the Washington Post. I was curious of your thoughts on the pieces written by me that touched on the subject, especially regarding the phrase "illegal immigrants".

 I am writing these words in a sports bar, relaxing with a beer and almond nuts and chicken wings, enjoying my anonymity amidst the cacophonous noise and din. I made some little money today and I am being happy and enjoying my existence on this planet. I hope this mildly euphoric feeling persists till tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be treating my friend Bob and his wife to lunch at a nice restaurant. Bob and Omar are my two best friends. "

Affectionately, 

Wissai

canngon.blogspot.com