HMPRESENTLY: ‘Mightier Than the Sword’

Sometimes, it’s some way something’s said by someone. Or, it’s words in a song, a poem… or news and commentary.

In 1839, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, wrote “The pen is mightier than the sword”… the English author’s powerful words… which are, by the way, a metonymic adage, whatever that is. I’d have to look it up in the dictionary.

But anyway, the other day, two words streamed into my consciousness — the words: ‘With words.’ I have no idea why, but, for some reason, I can’t seem to shake them from my mind.

During a TV station’s person-on-the-street interview, the individual being interviewed put in perspective a northern California county’s decision to loosen up the local COVID “mask requirement,” when, with a few words, she said… “you never know, boom, here we go”…

Nebraska GOP Senator Ben Sasse, reacting to being rebuked by his state’s Republican Party “for his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump,” said…“Most Nebraskans don’t think politics should be about the weird worship of one dude,” according to CNN.

In a Huffington Post article, former GOP Congressman Mickey Edwards, who was, beginning in the late 1970s, the chairman of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), had these words to say, regarding extremely-zealous worshippers: “…they’re no different than the people who flock to other totalitarian leaders in other countries… Whatever their great leader says, they do…”

And, the Biden administration’s nominee to lead the Interior Department, Deb Haaland, who would be the first Native American cabinet secretary, when asked by GOP Senator Steve Daines “why she cosponsored a bill protecting grizzly bears in perpetuity,” she replied, “I imagine at the time I was caring about the bears.” The Montana Senator has been “leading the crusade against Haaland,” according to The Nation magazine.

With those few soft – but, powerful words — during her confirmation hearing, Congresswoman Haaland seemed to say it all… one might say.

There’s another adage about the power of pictures. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” I have no idea if that’s metonymic, but that’s some adage.

What do you think? Is this picture worth a thousand words?

Harvey Radin

Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.