The Mighty Pen

It is an unusual thought to associate any evil with the inventions of the printing press and the typewriter. These two instruments, and their offspring, have transported humanity into an entirely new era of intellectual freedom. Unfortunately, as is the case of most new developments, people inevitably lost their respect and for the intellectual freedom they now take for granted.

In my humble opinion, all sense of honor has gone out of mankind.

This blog is not an attack on the news media, nor is it a commentary on the wayward nature of so much of the literature we find in our modern culture. Rather, this is a slap on the wrist to our whole society for the fact that we no longer lend the appropriate weight to the choosing of our words – both in writing and speech.

Please stay your comments about the timeliness of this blog entry. I am aware that J. Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. I am not actually 600 years behind the curve for writing this commentary in 2008. It is only recently, maybe in the past 100 years that the real degradation of our language began to take its effect. For many centuries, economics prevented the easy dissemination of information from making its way into the toolbox of common businesses and households.

Let us take a look at some of my favorite literature.
Exhibit A:

All that most maddens and torments; all that stirs up the less of things; all truth with malice in it; all that cracks the sinews and cakes the brain; all the subtle demonisms of life and though; all evil, to crazy Ahab, were visibly personified, and made practically assailable in Moby Dick. He piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart’s shell upon it.

- Passage from Moby Dick

This is absolutely fantastic. Do I know what sinews are? Not a chance. But it’s truly brilliant writing.

Of course, no one goes about their day using this sort of vocabulary with friends, family, coworkers, or strangers. Of course, I do think life would be much more peaceful and fulfilling if they would, but there is certainly nothing wrong with using modern terminology to express yourself.

However…

It is a sad truth that we, our generation and that of our parents, fail to communicate well even with the expansive modern vocabulary that we have at our fingertips. I do specify fingertips, and not the tip of the tongue. Most people need the use of a dictionary and thesaurus to survive a good book nowadays the way a good book ought to be survived. Of course, if you suggest the use of a dictionary to a twenty-something these days, they cast a long critical gaze at you like you’re some sort of reprobate for even thinking of the option.

How ironic.

And now for something more modern.
Exhibit B (hypothetical):

A lofof really hateful things, that’s what Ahab saw in the white whale. With a lot of anger on his mind, he attacked the whale. His battle was very poetic.

This is the type of writing that would get you a B+ in a 12th grade English class. Hardly comparable in terms of its ability to convey the scope and magnitude of what we find in Herman Melville’s version. The technology of information dissemination (from typewriters to the Internet) coupled with modern entertainment have allowed us to become lazy in our processing and construction of our thoughts. We no longer have to use our imagination to paint a scene, nor must we pay special attention to the many details of a written story. We sit back and absorb information and entertainment without earning it.

Although my argument on entertainment is most likely clear to everyone (shame on you if it isn’t), I imagine my criticism about the effects of the rapid movement of information is not as readily self-evident. Picture the following:

A middle-aged man sits at his writing desk in the late eighteenth century. Perhaps this takes place right before the American Revolutionary War. Witha limited supply of parchment paper and a feather quill in hand, he determines to write a letter to a few of his family members. The task will be arduous, as he must rewrite the same letter multiple times to send it to his few family members. Although writing is his only means of communicating with loved ones, the busy day does not often permit him the time to write his letters. He must choose his words carefully and thoughtfully to take advantage of the opportunity.

Fast forward to 2008.

Brandon sits down to write an e-mail to his four parents. He taps out a few quick lines. There is no need to write more. These e-mails are a daily event.

Everyone up for dinner at 5:00 on Saturday?
I’ll bring Winston.
Hope you’re all having a good day.
Love much!
- BJ

The difference by the two time periods is a grave one. The former scenario would not be so unacceptable were it to be supplemented with a more meaningful conversation on a regular basis. Sadly, this is not what we typically find in the world today. “Quick ‘n easy” phone calls and e-mails fill up the bulk of our communication quota.

The destruction of meaningful language is particularly heinous in our own generation. We have castrated our own language in favor of slang and comic euphemisms. I will not take your time with a rant about the overbearing use of street talk and G-speak. It is enough to note that these anti-productive attempts at communication have taken over those sectors of society where moral and ethical ambition have been gouged out in favor of entitlement, laziness, and a retrograde path through life.

In one of his works, C.S. Lewis points out his distaste for the loss of any real meaning behind the word “Gentleman.” I will include his words here, as he argues the point very well.

The word gentleman originally meant something recognisable; one who had a  coat  of  arms  and  some  landed  property. When you  called  someone “a gentleman” you were not paying him a compliment, but merely stating a  fact. If you said he was not “a gentleman” you were not  insulting him, but giving information. There was no contradiction in saying that John was a liar and a gentleman; any more than there now  is in saying that James is a fool and an M.A.  But  then  there  came   people   who  said-so  rightly,   charitably, spiritually,  sensitively,  so  anything  but  usefully-”Ah, but  surely the important thing about a gentleman is not the  coat of arms and the land, but the behaviour?  Surely he is the  true gentleman who behaves  as a gentleman should?  Surely in  that sense  Edward is far  more  truly a gentleman  than John?”

They meant well. To be honourable and courteous and brave is  of course a  far better thing than  to have a  coat  of arms.  But it  is not the same thing.

He’s right, you know. They simply aren’t the same thing. Our kind spent millenia building up a proper vocabulary so that we could express ourselves with great depth and beauty. From the romantic deep of a foray into falling in love, to the light-hearted euphoria of falling with a roller coaster, our language affords us the great opportunity to be who and what we are: human.

Only now, we find ourselves on the downhill side of this expansion. I feel as though I’m watching a poorly-directed ending to a movie after the cast had built to such a magnificent crescendo.

Our youth have no love, care, respect, or honor for the power that could be theirs would they only take the time to stop and think.

In all reality, it doesn’t take the vocabulary of Herman Melville to produce fine literature or meaningful speech between friends. All it really takes is the careful and deliberate placement of the words we do know, paying close attention to the perceptions that others may have.

Another criticism I run into with this type of argument (and most certainly one which I will encounter after my good friend, J.U., has read this blog) is that I am acting in some form of snobbery for even bringing this topic up. Clearly I’m an arrogant, condescending, elitist, blah blah blah.

Although it may certainly be true of me, with regard to certain aspects of my life (says I, as I wave off the waitress), it is not true with specific regard to this topic. I believe that all human beings share the right, privilege, and responsibility to communicate with clarity and depth.

I just finished watching the John Adams miniseries that was recently created by HBO Films. With the exception of a very few number of misgivings, the 7-part series is well acted and historically accurate. I would recommend it for anyone and everyone. Throughout the series, we have the opportunity to watch a very solemn portrayal of John Adams. He is a man who understands the weight of his words. Both he and his fellow men take their time and put their hearts into what needs to be said and communicated with their friends, family, countrymen, and maybe most importantly: posterity.

I suggest that we all follow suit.