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FATHER’S DAY BAFFLEMENT
When I had an exalted position with AT&T, I would refer baffling questions to my secretaries. Three of those secretaries remain in touch and I would probably refer my current Father’s Day bafflement to them. Those three are Althea Scheller, Pat Impellizari, and Lorraine Grant Murray. My first bafflement has to do with the term,…
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ENGLISH LINGUA FRANCA
In the spring of 1942, I made my first attempts to join the American Army. This essay has nothing to do with army life but rather it has to do with language. At that time, in 1942, the lingua franca of the world was French. The language of diplomacy was conducted in French, which accounted…
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END TIMES
Those of you who are involved in Protestant theological matters will recognize the title of this essay, “End Times,” with no hesitation. For those unacquainted with theological matters of the Protestant faith, perhaps I should explain that the words “end times” mean the end of the world. True believers hold that the end of the…
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DROPPING BABIES
Lindsey Graham is the senior senator from South Carolina who is single and in his mid-fifties. So it is a surprise to see him lend his efforts to a campaign about dropping babies. But the fact is that ol’ Lindsey has recently joined the Republican fight which contends that illegal immigrants come to the United…
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GOD AND GAYS
In this longer-than-expected lifetime, the subject of homosexuality has rarely reared its head. When same-sex marriages came into view, the subject of homosexuality is now more often discussed. Recently, the discussion is about male homosexuality. The condition of homosexuality resides also in females so I am told. The purpose of this essay is to trace…
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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AGAIN
From time to time in Ezra’s Essays, I have commented upon changes in the English language that have impressed me. There are a good many that do not impress me. Today’s essay largely has to do with those that don’t impress me. There are four words that I might cite as reasons for writing this…
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COJONES
Within the next few days, Barack Obama will celebrate his first year in the office of the presidency of the United States. I suppose the media will make this anniversary something to remember. If I may be excused, I would like to add the words of an old essayist to the batch of communications that…
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DELICT
Those of you who have followed my career know that I have spent my full time in study and in contemplation of the great theological works. In spite of the fact that I have spent nearly 88 years in the study of theological works, I was astounded to find that there was a religious word…
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D.A.D.T. – R.I.P. ~~
In the year 1867, the Marquess of Queensberry published some rules concerning the sport of boxing. I am told that the fellow who has the title of marquess ranks below a duke and above an earl in the British peerage. The rules contained the essentials of good sportsmanship. There was to be no hitting when…
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CESAR AND ANDY
Under ordinary circumstances, my wife and I go grocery shopping twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Again, if ordinary circumstances hold, we have found on Tuesdays, there are two attendants who retrieve the carts over the large parking lot and bring them back so they may be used again. When the two cart retrievers…