|The South Marysburgh Mirror | INSULT This time of year we seem to hear more about people in- sulting each other. Perhaps it’s because it’s election time for municipalities and building up to elections for the Prov- ince and Federal governments. Thave pretty well ceased paying attention to what is said at question periods in both Toronto and Ottawa because the participants in this uncon- trolled and demeaning event seem dedicated to showing our young people how uncouth, illogical and insulting they can be. The dictionary defines insult as ‘to treat with insolence, in- dignity or contempt’ and what with references to dogs and such and the level of intellect being used is surely an insult to those of normal intelligence. It needn’t always be so. All insults are hurtful to the recipi- ent but some provide others, who heard it said, with a feel- ing of ‘Oh gee, I wished I'd said that. I think immediately of two such insults in an exchange be- tween George Bemard Shaw and Winston Churchill. Shaw, who had a play opening sent two tickets to Churchill for the opening night with the note “I have enclosed two tickets for you and a friend, if you have one.’ Churchill replied “ I’m sorry I can’t make the opening night but will attend the second night, if you have one.” The other famous one is the interchange between Lady As- tor and Winston. Lady Astor, in high dudgeon at a dinner party said to Winston “you are the drunkest man I have ev- er seen.” Winston replied * and you madam are the ugliest women I have ever seen, but I shall be better in the mom- ing.” I was musing on this topic with a friend a while ago and he sent me some ‘insults’ from the web. You might get a laugh from these, I did, especially since our home grown legislators seem very much less intelligent. “He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” — William Faulkner about Ernest Hemingway. “Poor Faulkner, does he really think big emotions come from big words.’ Ernest Hemingway about William Faulk- ese. “Thank you for sending me a copy of your book, I’ll waste no time reading it.” Moses Hadas. “He can compress most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.’ Abraham Lincoln Here is one that most of us could have said on many occa- sions. ‘I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.” - Groucho Marx or ‘I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it.” Mark Twain. How many people could we address this one to. He is a self-made man and worships his creator.’ John Bright or use this one from Mae West. “His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.’ Although the next few are not new they could be used to arene many of our current politicians, either singularly or roup. He i is not only dull himself but the cause of dullness in others.” Samuel Jo! ‘He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.” Paul Keating “He has delusions of adequacy.’ Walter Kerr “They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.’ Thomas Brockett Reed. “He has the attention span of a lightening bolt.’ Robert Redford. “A modest little person with much to be modest about.’ Winston Churchill. “He has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends.’ Oscar Wilde. “He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I ad- mire.” Winston Churchill and ‘He uses statistics as a drunk- en man uses lampposts for support rather than illumina- tion.’ Andrew Lang. Here are some others that I would have been proud to have originate .’He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker fore- bears but by diligent hard work he overcame them.’ James Reston about Richard Nixon. “He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.’ Forest Tucker. “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever Continued on page 8 OBJECTIVE OPTICAL BINOCULARS MICROSCOPES TELESCOPES Repairs to all makes and used sold Excellent across to » parts & accessories for all mi 353 years experience RR. 2, Milford, ON KOK 2P0 Fax (613) 476-2955 Prop: Phil Mathewson Phone (613) 476-2418