Gotta Love The Euphemism...

As I readied myself for the day, I was multitasking, a word that my husband does not allow to be uttered in our house.  You know, applying make-up, while making the bed and half listening to the morning news on the television.  Knee deep into my morning rituals, I was struck by two words uttered by a national news anchor reporting the Washington D.C. beat as she was describing some Congressmen.  She said that they exhibited an ethical lapse.

As a writer it is my business, my passion and my hobby to put words to paper, the Internet, brochures, or whatever other mediums I am assigned.  I appreciate words.  No, scratch that, I am in love with words, phrases and how to cleverly put them together.  I get the different styles of writing and how powerful words and phrases can get folks to jump off their duffs to make a purchase, listen to an opposing viewpoint, and learn of events outside of their sandboxes, and on and on.

The potency of the words, ethical lapse used in this particular segment gave me pause.  What was this?  I know, I know, it was a euphemism. Remember those?  Yep, the ability to replace a mild word or phrase that is less offensive than what is really intended.

I was quickly reminded of my blind dating phase, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.  When I would inquire as to what my mystery date looked like, I would frequently hear, “He has a great personality.”  After several dates lasting longer than the American Revolution I wised up and knew that it really meant was that he sweat profusely and laughed loudly at his own jokes.

So what was really meant by the words ethical lapse? Did the Congressmen have a problem telling the truth?  Or to be blunt, did they lie?  Then I got to thinking, what really went on with the writers who had to spin this piece.  What other phrases were bandied about?  Moral amnesia?   Displaced honesty?  Truth deficit disorder?

 Who says writing isn’t fun?