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Darin J. McCann

Words are good.

Spoken or written, words relay our thoughts, our messages, our feelings and emotions. Different languages can be translated to convey the meaning of the words and, when grouped together just the right way, they can sound, well, pretty.

I’ve heard that mathematics is the one “true” language, a method of communicating and explaining that is the same, regardless of ethnicity, background or regional dialect. Numbers are numbers and their individual values are the same to everyone, the mathematics pundits say.

Apparently they never saw me try to grapple with pi or any number of geometry problems in my youth.

There are also those who sing the praises of body language. These body language apologists say that closed arms, stiff shoulders or a simple wagging of the finger can be correctly interpreted by anyone observant enough to look. Fair enough, but do you really get to understand why your wife is standing there with one hand on her hip and the other wrapped around a rather ominous looking frying pan unless you ask?

Of course, asking might not be your best avenue of recourse in that situation. I remember once ...

But I digress.

For me, the word is the thing. In writing, each of us have his or her own personal style with words, whether we notice it or not. For instance, I miss reading Josh Miller’s somewhat flowery prose when he wrote feature stories for us, and I get a kick out of the combination of pseudo-intellectualism and down-home Sussex County native flair that Sam Harvey combines in his writing. I admire M. Patricia Titus for her Hemingway-esque style of never wasting a word while getting out every minutiae of information possible — all along maintaining a readable staccato rhythm, and I love how often John Denny tries to sneak in an expletive or two in his sports stories every week, while sticking to the flow of an observer explaining what he saw. Me? I’m a hack, but I do enjoy fiddling with words.

Bored yet?

What got me into this topic is the release Patricia sent me the other day via e-mail. Merriam-Webster recently announced the new words and senses that made the cut for the 11th edition of their dictionary. The listings of new words is not only the linguistic legitimizing of slang or word combinations, but we can also see the morphing of our pop culture into the traditions of our language.

For instance, new to this edition of the dictionary is brain freeze, DHS (Department of Homeland Security), hazmat, SARS, chick flick, Wi-Fi, otology and civil union. In 1,000 years, archaeologists could simply look at the above words allowed into this new version of the dictionary and determine that our culture recently accepted the brain locking agony of eating ice cream too fast, faced some sort of threat that required us to secure our borders, dealt with new and hazardous materials, saw a major illness arrive on the horizon, wept at ridiculous movies on dates, went wireless, developed a science dealing with the ear and its diseases and began discussions on the legal status of same-sex couples.

Ah, I forgot that bikini wax also made the cut in the new dictionary, thus legitimizing one of Bob Bertram’s hobbies.

I’m not exactly sure what the archaeologists will make of the last one, but let’s move on to a few of the words that I’m predicting will see some love in the 12th edition of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

• Blog (noun): A method for truly boring people to put their truly boring lives into a truly boring diary for truly boring people to read on the Internet when they’re truly bored.

• Gotcha (noun): A device invented by a community newspaper editor that allows television viewers to push a button and shine bright lights and pipe in ear-splitting music that requires an otologist to the bedrooms of the producers of reality television programming.

• Moronia (noun): The study, and accompanying understanding, of that which caused people in the past to lack in common sense. The groundbreaking advances in the field led to the end of the phenomenon of people who couldn’t figure out how to make correct change, use turn signals or make land use decisions on county councils.

• Yikers (noun): The compressed expression on one’s face following the first sip of Irish whiskey on a Friday night.

• Nighters (noun): The satisfied, goofy expression on one’s face following the 1,724th sip of Irish whiskey early Saturday morning.

• Slappa (noun): The sound made when a reader strikes him or herself on the forehead for actually wasting the time to read a column about words.

Don't let disasters go away

We are a society of instant gratification. To that end, we are also a society of instant empathy.

When trouble arrives, we rally. We draw inspiration from one another and unite in common cause. Be it terrorist attacks or natural disasters, the very nature of humanity pours out of us as we attempt to help out those in need.

Then ... many of us often move on.

Though the non-stop coverage on the television has yielded to other items, and many of the celebrities have returned to their homes, it is imperative we remember that, for many people in the Gulf states, returning home is not an option.

They have lost homes. They have lost lives. Many of them have lost hope.

This nation rallied and sympathized for these individuals. We collectively wept as their images flashed across the television, and we dug into our hearts and our pockets to try and ease their pain.

As we typically do, from community to community, when adversity strikes.

However, when the tragedy is not personally staring us in the face on a daily basis, we tend to move on, and to assume that the problem is fixed.

It’s not.

It’s not that we don’t care anymore, it’s that we just don’t see it as often. Out of sight, out of mind — a tradition as old as tragedy itself. Well, let’s see if we can’t keep it in mind for at least another week.

You’ll read in this week’s Point the second part of a story on Jason Bergman, of the Fenwick Island Police Department, and his experiences along the Gulf immediately following Hurricane Katrina. You’ll also read about a great fund-raising event this Sunday at Mickey’s Family Crabhouse, where 100 percent of the proceeds go to the American Red Cross.

People still need our help. Let’s see what we can do.

A thank you to sponsors and volunteers
Editor:

Saturday, Sept. 17, was a wonderful day for families in Sussex County. The fifth annual Fun Fest, sponsored by the Beebe Medical Center Auxiliary, took place at Winswept Stables in the Lewes area. Hundreds of adults and children enjoyed games, activities, pony rides, a train ride, plenty of food, and free horse shows. The annual event raised nearly $10,000 toward the Beebe Medical Center Vision 2005 Capital Campaign to help fund the Emergency Department expansion. This event could not have been possible without the hospitality of Winswept Stables, as well as the generosity of our supportive sponsors, and the dedication of all the volunteers.

On behalf of the auxiliary, I would like to thank:

Our sponsors Joe Hudson and family; Dr. Ellen Bahtiarian of Southern Delaware Imaging Associates; County Bank, Delaware Cardiovascular Associates; Wachovia Bank; Cape Surgical Associates; Jack Lingo, Realtor; Price Acura, Dover; Dr. Habib Bolourchi; Dr. Michael D. Cahoon; Orthopedic Associates, Country Life Homes; Boulevard Motors; Delaware National Bank; Happy Harry’s; Lane Builders; Webb Builders; R. Rush Ellis, Realtor; Lewes Realty; Citizens Bank; Wal-Mart; Lewes Dairy; Truitt Insurance; Conley’s United Methodist Church; Food Lion — Five Points; Giant; Superfresh; CVS.

Our auxiliary member volunteers who always seem to come through, our Funfest committee, as well as members of the Lions Club of Rehoboth who grilled hamburgers and hot dogs; Col. Ron Reilly and the Junior ROTC members from Cape Henlopen High School who were invaluable in helping people find a place to park; Heather Hastings and the FFA members from Cape Henlopen High School; our clowns, NUR Shriners Ed Rayner, Clayton Hewes and David Edwards; Girl Scouts, Troop 46 from Delmarva Christian High School, and Cadette Troop 449 from Newark; local Brownie Troop 881 and Junior Troop 507; and Sherry Culver and her daughter Felicia who came from Middleton. We, again, want to give a special thanks to Winswept Stables owners Jay and Dawn Beach, and to members of the Pony Club for the enjoyable riding events.

Pat Sandy
Chairwoman, Ways and Means
Beebe Medical Center Auxiliary

Planners in Sussex should hear from us
Editor:

Allowing ordinary citizens to appeal Planning and Zoning Commission land use decisions without having to take it to court is common in many counties, such as Anne Arundel County in Maryland.

Furthermore, in Anne Arundel, citizens can also easily appeal County Council zoning decisions. They just file with the county’s own Board of Zoning Appeals and the costs are minimal. We should have that in Sussex County.

Yes, citizens should have an easy way to appeal a Planning and Zoning Commission subdivision decision, but not to the Sussex County Council. The council is elected and just too political to be making final legal decisions on zoning because they are often subjected to ex parte (inappropriate) communication outside the hearing room.

We need an independent Board of Zoning Appeals in the county to act as judges on all zoning decisions. And the appointees need to be independent and capable of interpreting zoning law — and not worried about the next election.

That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

Joan Deaver
Rehoboth Beach

Family thankful for support of community
Editor:

We would like to thank everyone for the food and flowers. We greatly appreciate your thoughts, prayers and support.

Elwood Marvel, husband; Eddie Marvel, son, and wife, Nancy; Glen Marvel, grandson, and wife, Duane; Vickie O’Hare, granddaughter, and husband, Tim; John Marvel, grandson, and wife, Lisa; two great grandchildren, Brandon and Nicole Marvel

South Bethany did not inform voters enough
Editor:

The big surprise you just experienced about the South Bethany voters’ approval to build a new town hall and police station should have possibly got you thinking: Why? Low voter turn out: Why?

Voter apathy — maybe. Voter not knowing about the election — most likely.

Take a look at the South Bethany Web site, click on History, then check out the population numbers, full-time residents, part-time residents, etc. The only notice of the election was the town newsletter “Zephyr” mailed three weeks before the election and/or attending the Aug. 12 council meeting.

People did not vote because they did not know to vote. There is no excuse for not attending the town council meetings — or is there? Do you think this would have passed if voters thought that it was costing them $750 per household?

Voters not informed — most likely.

Voter apathy — yes, some of that too.

Jeff White
South Bethany

Religion not exclusive to conservatives
Editor:

If nothing else, Charles Valenti is dogged in his efforts to have Christianity dominate the public discourse and our laws. One has to admire his persistent fervor in asserting what he believes our founding fathers intended in order to sway us to what seems to be his basic premise, namely that majority views should prevail, presumably in all matters or, at least, in matters of religion.

Having said this, Valenti’s claims of what is contained in the texts of the nation’s Declaration of Independence and the Constitution about Christianity is simply inaccurate.

First, in the Declaration of Independence there is one reference to “Nature’s God,” one reference to a “Creator,” and one reference to “divine Providence.” These are three single generic references to a God — a God that could be revered by Mormons, Baptists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Unitarians — namely by all religious denominations alike, not just Christians.

Let it be clear: Neither “Christianity” nor any religion is mentioned anywhere in this document. Moreover, these three generic references reflect the founding fathers’ sensitivity to — and recognition of — the religious diversity of the new nation.

While the Declaration declared our independence from England, as important as that declaration was, it did not lay down the ground rules of how our country would be governed. That task was left to the Constitution, which brings me to my second point.

In the Constitution there is no reference to “Nature’s God,” “Creator,” or “divine Providence,” as there is in the Declaration of Independence. In fact, there is no reference to any god at all, and clearly no reference to Christianity.

The founders of our country also adopted the Bill of Rights as amendments to the Constitution. The intent of these amendments was to delineate those issues on which majority views should not control and on which government action should be constrained. Thus, contrary to Valenti’s arguments, our founding fathers wanted to rein in majority rule in some matters, one of which was the establishment of religion by government.

Our founding fathers wanted accommodation and balance to guide our country by ensuring that the views and rights of minorities on certain matters would be protected — to repeat: accommodation and balance to ensure that the views of minorities on certain matters would be protected.

Admittedly, we have not always followed our founding fathers wisdom. Consider how the majority was allowed to run roughshod over the rights of African-Americans for so long. Eventually, the evil of this dominance by the majority was overturned. The fact that the majority was allowed to perpetuate such an evil for so long is a major blot on our country’s history.

The clear lesson from this period of our history is that the majority is not always right, a reality that should give pause to those who believe otherwise. Eventually, the wisdom of our founding fathers re: accommodation and balance prevailed to protect the rights of a minority and the evil of majority rule in this instance was finally brought to an end.

Lastly, Valenti asked: “If God is backing the conservatives, who, then, is prompting liberals?” Here is the answer from a liberal Roman Catholic: God, conscience and the U. S. Constitution.

Mary K. Ryan
Frankford