Independence Day and the “fourth”

Okay, I think I finally became a grumpy old man.

I was listening to “Morning Edition” on National Public Radio this week (yes, I know, that already makes me sound old) and there was this continued reference to our nation celebrating the fourth of July.  Well, that just gets me going.

Now maybe I’m nitpicking here, but I’m not celebrating the fourth of July anymore than I am today celebrating the third of July.  I will, however, be celebrating and commemorating Independence Day tomorrow.

Why is this important to me and why was I bothered by it?  To put it in the most simple defense, we are the architects of language and we have the opportunity to raise the bar of how language can and should be used.  For instance, the longer we use “fourth of July” to represent such an important moment in United States history, the more we strip from our language the reference to the monumental events that resulted in the independence of the United States from England.

This same kind of bastardization of language is what has brought us people who say “supposably”,  “irregardless”, and “guesstimate”.  Seriously now, if you needed to have work done on your heating and air conditioning would you trust the guy who gave you an “estimate” or a “guesstimate”.

So there it is.  I stand before you the latest to turn into a curmudgeon.  I hope you have a Happy Independence Day and that you pass on a similar greeting to others tomorrow.  I know it is an uphill battle, but I ask you join me in the fight.  Else we shall be wishing each other a “Merry 25th of December” come Winter…