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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
July 30, 2010
/ 19 Menachem-Av, 5770
Taking Issue With . . .
By
Greg Crosby
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
I need for you to read this column. No, that's not true. I'd LIKE you to read this column. I don't NEED FOR YOU to read this column. Have you noticed that everyone is "needing" these days? "I need for you to clean up your room." "I need for you to call me on Friday." What was wrong with simply saying, "Clean up your room" or "Please call me on Friday?" It's all about "needs" now. Using "need" is bad enough, but adding the word "for" after it just makes this cant phrase even worse.
Worse yet is the addition of the words, "for me" at the end of a request. If someone says, "I need for you to take a deep breath for me" it sounds like he's asking another person to breathe for him when really what is meant is, "please take a deep breath." Speaking that way obscures the meaning of what you're trying to communicate.
All this "needing" and "for me" business has came from New Age "I'm okay, you're okay" therapy culture. It's the same personal-growth philosophy that has taken away other easy to understand terms and replaced them with feel-good obscure cants. We don't have problems or difficulties anymore; we have "issues." A difficulty is something to be overcome. A problem is something to solve. But an issue is something to ponder or discuss, ideally in a group therapy session with sandalwood incense burning and Kenny G playing in the background.
This past week I had nothing but grief with my computer. But when my computer doesn't operate properly I don't have "issues" with it, I have problems with it. If I have problems with my computer, I have to have it fixed. But having "issues" with my computer sounds like my computer and I should be sitting down together to discuss how best to continue our relationship.
When we lose a loved one or something else of a negative nature occurs in our lives, we now look for "closure." Closure is another New Age term. What did we do before we had "closure?" I guess we just had to deal with whatever it was that happened to us, take a deep breath, and go on with our lives. Or as the old song said, "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again." Now we look for closure.
Kids aren't told that they're doing wrong anymore; they are told that they are "behaving inappropriately." To say that they are doing wrong is, God forbid, making a value judgment, and we certainly don't want to do that, do we? There is no right or wrong, there is just appropriate and inappropriate. Wrong is strong, you don't ever won't to do wrong. Inappropriate is kind of wispy, a behavioral choice. And certainly non-judgmental.
It's not only the therapists that sabotage our language; the media has their sticky fingers in it too. A case in point is the word "iconic." Have you noticed lately that everything has become iconic? It has become the hot new word. Marilyn Monroe is described as an iconic movie star. Coca Cola is an iconic soft drink. "Time" is an iconic newsmagazine. A painting of Jesus on wood is an iconic icon.
World-wide has become global. The Orient has become Asia. England was always Britain, of course, but until recent years we mostly called it England and its citizens English. Now it's Britain and "the Brits" more often than not.
And the word "community" is tacked onto any and all groups. If we speak of all people in the world, it's the global community. We don't speak of Latin people or black people; we speak of The Latino community and the African-American community. As if everyone in those groups live in the same neighborhood. The label is applied to religions too - the Jewish Community, the Catholic community. The inference being that they all must think alike on any given subject.
Is there an obese community? Is there a media community? Is there a teenage community? Is there a senior citizen community? I mean besides Leisure World.
Well, that's about all I have this week. If there was anything about this column that you thought was inappropriate or if you have any issues with anything I said, then I need for you to write me. Just send your letter to me in care of the columnist community and I'll do my best to see that you get closure.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.
Greg Crosby Archives
© 2008, Greg Crosby
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