As a thick midwesterner, I will never forget my first trip to NYC when standing 12 feet back from the McDonald's counter while pondering breakfast options, to hear the cashier shout, "Hey, are you just going to stand there all day or are you going to order something?" ... "Oh sorry", I replied and quickly read off whatever my eyes were looking at, (which was not what I wanted).
Regarding the passage from Robert A. Heinlein. Yes,very,very true. I'd like to specifically add shame. People seem to have lost the ability to be ashamed. And the ability to apologize. Accidently bump into the wrong person these days,you can very quickly wind up at the OK Corral. If it's truly an accident,smile,apologize,defuse,move on. "I'm sorry,it's on me" goes a long way. Who's got time for a duel?!
"A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot."
Robert Heinlein
Sometimes a quote just stands on its own. No additional comment required.
"I met some fellow Midwesterners of mine at a restaurant here in New York last week."
Isn't "fellow Midwesterners of mine" redundant? "I met some fellow Midwesterners" conveys the information that you are all from the Midwest. I don't think "Midwesterners of mine" even works, unless you're claiming close affiliation with all Midwesterners. You would use "of mine" as an alternative to saying "my": "I met my cousin at a restaurant," or, "I met a cousin of mine at a restaurant."
What is your opinion, Mr. Nordlinger, on phrases such as "fellow classmates" and "fellow countrymen"? I think the nouns - classmates, countrymen - include the meaning that "we all fit in this category," so the "fellow" is redundant.
Also, if you genuinely feel that all Midwesterners are "mine" (that is, yours), that's really sweet. I sometimes say that I'm going to church on Sunday with "my Mexicans," but that is a subset of all Mexicans.
As a thick midwesterner, I will never forget my first trip to NYC when standing 12 feet back from the McDonald's counter while pondering breakfast options, to hear the cashier shout, "Hey, are you just going to stand there all day or are you going to order something?" ... "Oh sorry", I replied and quickly read off whatever my eyes were looking at, (which was not what I wanted).
Regarding the passage from Robert A. Heinlein. Yes,very,very true. I'd like to specifically add shame. People seem to have lost the ability to be ashamed. And the ability to apologize. Accidently bump into the wrong person these days,you can very quickly wind up at the OK Corral. If it's truly an accident,smile,apologize,defuse,move on. "I'm sorry,it's on me" goes a long way. Who's got time for a duel?!
"A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot."
Robert Heinlein
Sometimes a quote just stands on its own. No additional comment required.
It isn’t Sunday Morning, without Jay.
Bravo, sir.
Thank you for keeping President Reagan’s spirit alive in both his words, and his deeds.
👍
Sundays with Nord are the best.
Thank you, Dave!
"I met some fellow Midwesterners of mine at a restaurant here in New York last week."
Isn't "fellow Midwesterners of mine" redundant? "I met some fellow Midwesterners" conveys the information that you are all from the Midwest. I don't think "Midwesterners of mine" even works, unless you're claiming close affiliation with all Midwesterners. You would use "of mine" as an alternative to saying "my": "I met my cousin at a restaurant," or, "I met a cousin of mine at a restaurant."
What is your opinion, Mr. Nordlinger, on phrases such as "fellow classmates" and "fellow countrymen"? I think the nouns - classmates, countrymen - include the meaning that "we all fit in this category," so the "fellow" is redundant.
Will address in future column!
Looking forward to it.
Also, if you genuinely feel that all Midwesterners are "mine" (that is, yours), that's really sweet. I sometimes say that I'm going to church on Sunday with "my Mexicans," but that is a subset of all Mexicans.