Consider this absolute truth

Perhaps there are only a few of us who become irritated by, or perhaps even notice, the way television talking heads follow the latest trends in word choice. Not long ago it seemed to be only sportscasters who used "absolutely" to begin too many statements and especially their answers to any unimportant questions. There was nothing more absolute than their opinion of an umpire's decision, a coach's smarts, or a player's ability.

But this verbal virus is catching! Almost everyone simply by virtue of appearing on television can become absolute. Like 'lashing out" before it, which was absolutely the best verbal phrase to communicate even moderate criticism, or "that being said," which absolutely had to precede any statement that followed upon another, now even the least important statements may be preceded by "absolutely." That being said, fortunately these first two have begun their inevitable verbal decline, so it is no longer important for me to lash out against their extreme overuse. "Absolutely," however, is just now to be heard too frequently in too many contexts. And, unfortunately, few seem to have any adequate idea of the meaning of the word. When properly used, it means to convey our human sense of the ultimate, universal, unconditional, and perfect. Or to put it the other way around, it is meant to characterize that which is not relative to anything else. Any one, then, who daringly or ignorantly uses this word to characterize some of his or her insipid comments, or even most important judgments, is claiming a status no human being has. Because we all are related to, and thus limited by, cultural, familial, educational and experiential contexts, all of our statements are relative.

That being said, it may come as no surprise to some that the one who has lashed out at this gross misuse of "absolute" spent four decades teaching theology. Thus, from his non-absolute, relative standpoint, his whole point may be summarized into "Please stop pretending that our mass media can make any of us God, or even godlets. That is what used to be called idolatry."

James Will

Elk Grove Village