With Americans busy celebrating the 233rd birthday of the USA this week freedom of speech comes to mind. We Americans are big on speaking freely but the words we use are quite another matter. In fact we are becoming a nation of braying sheep using the same words and phrases over and over again. Benjamin Franklin a wordsmith if there ever was one would have some issues with that.
Issues. That is a drastically overused word that is being used to avoid the proper word: problems. He has issues sounds a lot better than the guy is dramatically screwed up. So my friend issues not problems is the new polite.
My friend. Is it just me or does calling someone you just met my friend sound a bit condescending? Friendship takes time and commitment. I dont want somebody telling me Im his or her friend. Alexander Hamilton who could be a mean guy would understand and if he were still alive he would give me a shout out.
Shout out. That cliche comes from the hip-hop world which has done more to ruin the English language than Paris Hilton. But the rappers have won this lexicon battle. Millions of Americans are now shouting out to their friends and neighbors. Whats next Dick Cheney giving a shout out to Don Rumsfeld? Could happen and if it does it will be Cheneys bad.
My bad. This may be the worst cliche to hit the country since groovy. Again it comes from the hip-hop industry where they be chillin over using actual phrases like that was my fault. Why say four words when you can say two and rhyme at the same time? My bad Im mad. Awesome.
Awesome. Why? Why not splendid? Or excellent? Or super? Sorry we had super a few years ago and it almost drove me to learn Farsi. But really why awesome? Why is everybody saying that? And dont tell me it is what it is.
I hate that. It is what it is. What does that mean? Should we go around saying stuff like hey look at that alligator over there -- it is what it is. I know that. I know what Im seeing and hearing. I dont need someone to tell me that refrigerator is what it is. That is sooooo not cool.
Sooooo. Pleeeease. Stooooop.
And cool. When Brando said it in the 1950s it sounded good. When Edd Kookie Byrnes said it on 77 Sunset Strip it was in context. When President Obama says it I want to turn in my passport. Grown ups should not be saying cool unless they are willing like Brando to ride big motorcycles very fast. Then its OK. You go girl!
Yikes. You go girl! Another expression from the hood made popular by Oprah and other TV people. Now all the girls are going. But where? Where are the ladies heading? I dont know.
Veteran TV news anchor Bill OReilly is host of the Fox News show The OReilly Factor and author of the books Whos Looking Out For You? and A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity.
With Americans busy celebrating the 233rd birthday of the USA this week freedom of speech comes to mind. We Americans are big on speaking freely but the words we use are quite another matter. In fact we are becoming a nation of braying sheep using the same words and phrases over and over again. Benjamin Franklin a wordsmith if there ever was one would have some issues with that.
Issues. That is a drastically overused word that is being used to avoid the proper word: problems. He has issues sounds a lot better than the guy is dramatically screwed up. So my friend issues not problems is the new polite.
My friend. Is it just me or does calling someone you just met my friend sound a bit condescending? Friendship takes time and commitment. I dont want somebody telling me Im his or her friend. Alexander Hamilton who could be a mean guy would understand and if he were still alive he would give me a shout out.
Shout out. That cliche comes from the hip-hop world which has done more to ruin the English language than Paris Hilton. But the rappers have won this lexicon battle. Millions of Americans are now shouting out to their friends and neighbors. Whats next Dick Cheney giving a shout out to Don Rumsfeld? Could happen and if it does it will be Cheneys bad.
My bad. This may be the worst cliche to hit the country since groovy. Again it comes from the hip-hop industry where they be chillin over using actual phrases like that was my fault. Why say four words when you can say two and rhyme at the same time? My bad Im mad. Awesome.
Awesome. Why? Why not splendid? Or excellent? Or super? Sorry we had super a few years ago and it almost drove me to learn Farsi. But really why awesome? Why is everybody saying that? And dont tell me it is what it is.
I hate that. It is what it is. What does that mean? Should we go around saying stuff like hey look at that alligator over there -- it is what it is. I know that. I know what Im seeing and hearing. I dont need someone to tell me that refrigerator is what it is. That is sooooo not cool.
Sooooo. Pleeeease. Stooooop.
And cool. When Brando said it in the 1950s it sounded good. When Edd Kookie Byrnes said it on 77 Sunset Strip it was in context. When President Obama says it I want to turn in my passport. Grown ups should not be saying cool unless they are willing like Brando to ride big motorcycles very fast. Then its OK. You go girl!
Yikes. You go girl! Another expression from the hood made popular by Oprah and other TV people. Now all the girls are going. But where? Where are the ladies heading? I dont know.
Veteran TV news anchor Bill OReilly is host of the Fox News show The OReilly Factor and author of the books Whos Looking Out For You? and A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity.
