First Blog

  Moral shortcuts.   Moral shortcuts are aphorisms that sum up states of goodness in only a few words. They are instant retorts, reports, or pronouncements given without explanation and analysis. They appeal to feeling good, hardly saying why, without content, and without depth. They are words meant to resonate in the mind.   They are weak, often vague aphorisms.   Moral shortcuts live a saltshaker to be spread to give flavor!     Beware of empty politicians telling us … A.       It is the right thing to do. B.       This is not who we are. C.       We are on the right side of history. D.      We have formed a commission to study the issue. E.       We’re here to help you. F.        They are friends, not competitors. G.      Let us reimagine … . Some buy every time, nodding in agreement. Some ask, “Is this the best you can do?” Ala, morality is in the air, often attached to extreme measures, sort of an essential sweetener to a distasteful medicine. Really, they want

When the same noun is used on both sides of the verb it has a remarkable effect. It confers a meaning that may entrance, or even inspire the reader. Linking the same stem in this manner confers a deeper meaning and affect an emotional response.  If implies a deeper meaning, which actually upon reflection is incumbent on the reader to create.  It is really just a linguistic trick used by all the our masters* of language.  But they must be applied with the author mindful of just the right application. Here is a famous quote: "Luck is believing you're lucky." --- Tennessee Williams Here is another: Dryden to Lawrence (of Arabia) in the film: "It is recognized you have a funny sense of fun."  The remaining of these were generated from noun and verb lists.  Though all were constructed in just two hours, it should take you just two minutes to review.  All bunk. Hope is in the imagination of the hopeful. Freedom is life's realization to be free. Memory is