Tuesday, February 27, 2007

when words lose their meaning (1)

Atrocities is such an empty word. Journalists love it. You hear it everyday on the news. You hear it mentioned concerning the events of human history both past and present. The atrocities of Darfur. The atrocities of Rwanda. The atrocities of the Holocaust. And so on and so forth. Does it mean anything any more? Does it mean anything more than a four syllable sound that you hear coming from your plasma screen television, causing you to pause ever so momentarily before you return to eating your dinner?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

No, it doesn't. It says, "feel guilty for a moment. A moment is sufficient."

M. Weed said...

That's why we have a "moment of silence." I'd like to have a day of silence, or a week of silence. That would be interesting.

Rachel H said...

I know a girl here who gave up talking for Lent. She mouthes words, but she would not talk. It'll be interesting to hear her reasons when it's over.