The Liberty Legation 15-2 Drifting Nuance You are probably familiar with the perception that Inuit’s have more than 50 definitions/descriptions for “snow.” From the linguistic analyses I have seen, the actual number is closer to three words, but numerous modifiers are used to provide nuance. Here at the Little Pat-Ch of Paradise in Wood County, northwest Ohio, we have three words for snow, too. “Dusting,” “manageable and “deep” are the operative words for describing our snow-burdened lives. If you are a stickler for precision, we could add one more definition….”too deep.” Even with this broad range of descriptors, there are other factors that add nuance to our identification of types of snow. Is it a “blowing” snow (the most common in flat Wood County)? Is it settling, soft, sleety, crunchy or powdery? A dear friend of mine who now lives in a sunnier clime asks me whenever we chat during the winter months, “Is it snowing there?” I suspect my friend doesn’t want the precise descriptive element to fully capture the type of snow we are experiencing. Is it snow? How many parents of school-aged children have heard those words at 6:30 am on a weekday? For some people…merely saying “snow” is sufficient for informational needs. For those of us who must navigate the roads, plow the driveways, shovel sidewalks and wear multiple layers of clothing, we need more data….a more narrow description, so we are best equipped to deal with the situation. Our relationships with others and our governments are similar to our encounters with snow. In some instances we prefer the broader description or analysis while in other circumstances, we want to burrow beneath the drifts to “get to the bottom” of it. As an example, when you meet someone new at a social gathering, do you become somewhat nervous or tense if her/his questions are “too” personal? You are willing to share “snow” with the other party, but they seem intent on burrowing. You resent their efforts to understand your nuance…..unless, of course, you are an excessively lonely person with a disorder. Our elected officials and bureaucrats are dispensers of “snow” (hence: snow job) even though many of us would prefer more detail or information. In their defense too many of our fellow citizens are satisfied with mere ‘snow.’ In fact some want no mention of snow at all. They would rather engage in meaningless escapist activities while the nation faces a blizzard. They are satisfied with the snow if they do not have to wade through it or shovel it. The lovely white cover is beautiful and deceiving. Beneath the pristine blanket lay the dirt, the ugly and the rocks. On a sunny day the glistening snow reflects the light and blinds us to what is hidden beneath its splendor. When the winds of adversity rise up, the snow is transformed into danger-laden drifts. As you have probably discerned, it’s not the snow that challenges us. It is the nuance, the variables and the unseen beneath the snow that imperils us. With pride most of us proclaim that the United States is the “land of the free,” but there are a number of indices that suggest otherwise. Yes, liberty is our legacy, but we have squandered it by allowing it to melt away. Certainly, we can continue professing that we are freer than most who share our planet, but our liberty is being smothered by the incessant drifting of governments growing too large. A multiplicity of laws, rules, regulations and legal decisions are undermining our rights and our abilities to choose our own paths. We are gradually being forced to follow the footprints of our “leaders” and our “betters” rather than being encouraged to blaze our own trails through the snow. What if their path is wrong? Snow does provide some benefits for those of us in the Temperate Zone. It covers and comforts the ground while protecting the dormant perennials that lay waiting for spring. Restoring much needed moisture to the land is another critical function for our winter snows, so the discomfort and occasional pain that follows the snow may be worth it in the end. We must never forget, however, as we curse the snow or praise it that we should pursue the nuance. The details matter. The nature of the snow determines how we deal with it. May your days be filled with sunshine, and your nights with peace. youtu.be/mN7LW0Y00kE Charlie Earl thelibertylegation thelibertylegation@outlook
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:19:52 +0000
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