COLD WAR

Given the resurgence of the verbal arguing between the United States and Russia it seems appropriate to understand the source and meaning of the words Cold War.  My August 14, 2008 “The Russian Bear Roars” commentary starts with the question, “Is the Cold War really over?”

 

I found the online article “Memoirs: Cold War planning – 1952” by Barnaby Meins.  He says that the term was “first coined by Bernard Baruch during a congressional debate in 1947.”  I have found no other article that ascribes the terminology.  The meaning of the words seems to be well understood.  From 1945 until the fall of the Soviet Union there was a political, economic and ideological battle between communism and capitalism for the hearts and minds of all people in the entire world.  The United States lead the battle on the side of capitalism.  There were numerous events that frightened everyone into anticipating the war of words would become a physical war between armies.  The most significant of those events were the Blockade of Berlin and the Cuban Missile Crises.

 

There have been other cold wars in recent times.  Between Israel and Iran there is a war of words resulting from the hatred between Muslims and Jews.  There is a growing antagonism between the United States and Iran over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.  India and Pakistan have an ongoing war of words caused by the control of Kashmir. 

 

So is there a new cold war developing between the United States and Russia?  Articles in the UK press suggest that Russia feels the United States is starting such a war.  Articles in the American press are blaming Russia.  I am blaming President George W. Bush because of his “cowboy diplomacy.”  It appears we may be on the brink of a new cold war.

CELEBRITY

Barack Obama has been called a celebrity by John McCain.  No one is calling John McCain a celebrity.  Paris Hilton and Brittany Speers were called celebrities by John McCain.  Brittany Speers is a singer so maybe she qualifies as a celebrity.  Paris Hilton went to jail so I am not convinced she qualifies as a celebrity.

 

What is a celebrity?  Who decides if someone is a celebrity?  The synonyms are intriguing: 

• famous person
• superstar
• star
• personality
• pop idol
• movie star
• icon

 

The definition is “The quality of being widely known.”  That means that John McCain is a celebrity too.  I wonder if he knows that.

 

I have never heard of many of the people who are photographed and discussed on Access Hollywood or Entertainment Tonight.  I am wondering if those people they discuss are real celebrities.  Perhaps a person has to be followed by the press to be designated a celebrity.

 

This is the sort of topic that ought to be discussed by Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes.  Come to think of it, isn’t Andy Rooney a celebrity?  I tried to find an answer to this on the internet but the subject has not received a lot of attention.

 

Maybe we should have a government department that determines if someone is a real celebrity.  Lloyd Levine, my outgoing California State Assemblyman was always introducing outrageous legislation.  This might be something he ought to consider.

AUDACITY

“The Audacity of Hope” is the title of Barack Obama’s second book. I have read the book. I could not help but think that when the senator was writing this book that he was already focusing on running for President. The book was printed in 2006. I interpret that fact to mean the book was written in 2005. The book was certainly filled with Hope.

My favorite source for meaning of words is The American Heritage Dictionary. That dictionary says audacity means 1) fearless daring; intrepidity and 2) bold or insolent of restraints, as those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention.

Certainly Barack Obama has been all of those things in his quest for the White House. After all how many candidates for president have traveled overseas to make a major speech to 200,000 people?

There are some other words that could describe the senator. I like presumptuous which means going beyond what is right or proper. Of course that call for an opinion and in that instance perhaps my dictionary is presumptuous. In Microsoft Word (Is this Thesaurus a good resource for synonyms?) they list eight words that synonyms for presumptuous and one is audacious.

A favorite word of mine is chutzpa. The dictionary says that is “utter nerve.” I have found the on line definition “(Yiddish) unbelievable gall; insolence; audacity.”

Hello world!

William Safire’s On Language Column in the New York Times is his best work.  That same column appeared in syndication here in Los Angeles until he announced his retirement.  Happily I do not agree with his politics.  His column on language usage was always extraordinary.