Words and Privileges

Perhaps it was intended as a compliment.  I am quite certain it was.  However, when I hung up the phone, I was annoyed and bothered.  It had begun as a routine quasi business call, but one where I had to wander through an automated phone announcement while waiting to enter the proper digit in order to speak to a live customer service representative.

After about five minutes when I was finally connected, the problem I had was resolved.  I had also been alerted that the phone call may have been recorded in the interest of better service.  I had absolutely no problem with that.

However, as our conversation ended, the male voice at the other end of the line asked if my day had been going well.  I instinctively shrugged my shoulders and answered, “Yes, thank you” and prepared to end the call.

Then he interrupted me and said, “Because you are so precious to us.”  What? Me?  I should have responded, “All you know about me is my name and account number.”  Instead I hung up.  And thought about the misuse of the word “precious.”

My emotions were complex.  Irritated, annoyed and yet, a bit insulted.  I wondered if the call had been recorded, and if the representatives had been instructed to use that terminology.

Precious is a word I would use to describe a dearly loved member of my family.  Then I began to wonder if the vocabulary we have known and become accustomed to has started to lose its meaning.  Have all the tweeting, texting and twittering caused an impact resulting in a loss of validity of vocabulary?  Or possibly, there is an effect on the sincerity of our communications.

Later in the day as I was catching up on the news, for the second time within memory I read that one of our elected representatives has chosen to state that the public may not read a Bill until after it has been passed by the U.S. Congress.

Amazingly, both Nancy Pelosi and Paul Ryan, who are members of different political parties, share in this attitude.  I believe it could be considered, “The Public Be D.......” a quote ascribed to W. H. Vanderbilt in 1882.

I am certainly too old to be shocked by politicians, but in this case I truly was.  Not only astounded, but insulted.  It is a frightening scenario when Congressional representatives who are elected by citizens of their country arrogantly refuse their constituents the opportunity to view documents that will become laws of the land.

Even more shocking is when our elected representatives admit they have not read the Bill themselves.The misuse of the word “precious” dimmed considerably after reading the latest indignity from the U.S. Congress.