Passing Thoughts on Some “U” and “V” Topics

Ugly - Extreme make overs being rare, ugly is hard to accept, either in oneself or in others. Say what we will about beauty being in the eye of the beholder, most people agree on what is ugly. Ugliness can be toned down, and a good personality can distract from it once one gets to know the ugly person. Ugly is one of a handful of words brought to English from Icelandic.

Unemployment - An economic indicator to economists, but a harsh reality to the jobless person behind the statistic. Why a certain percentage of ready, willing and able unemployed people is not an unhealthy sign when there are so many things worth doing that are not getting done has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Full employment in legitimate jobs seems to me a desirable goal.

Unions - Workers getting together to keep “the man” from playing them off against each other. Some workers don’t care enough about the other workers to unite with them, and they can be used by “the man” to play off against other workers. For that reason, the laws of democracy have been applied to unions - if the majority of workers want a union, the minority in opposition are bound by the decision to unionize; they get the benefit of union negotiation and are required to pay the cost of being in the union.

United Nations - Americans were highly instrumental in its wise creation, which makes it all the more sad to see so many Americans today ignorantly disparaging it, cheered on by former yell leader George W. Bush.

United States - A federation of now 50 States, originally developed by compromise, later preserved by a war to suppress succession, and now held together by a wise Constitution and many well meaning citizens in spite of efforts by George W. Bush type politicians to foment discord between citizens of different States.

University - A conglomeration of colleges, affording students the opportunity to be exposed to some aspects of all the universe of learning - or at least as many as can be accommodated in the elective hours left after the requirements of the major course of study are met. Taking at least one course from each college would be a good requirement for a university curriculum.

Utopia - A place where everything is perfect. To conservative US Republicans, a country where the rich are not taxed and the poor are not protected. To liberal US Democrats, a country where the rich pay a fair share of taxes and the poor are protected. Which vision is more unrealistic?

Vandalism - Useless defacement and destruction by ignorant and otherwise idle people who in some cases mistakenly believe themselves to have artistic talent.

Vanilla - A flavor so delicious and popular that it somehow became considered plain.

Vengeance - “Is mine sayeth the lord”, again demonstrating the role of terrorism in the mythology of the Intelligent Designer. Vengeance is getting even, or paying back, for some wrong, including that done to others. George W. Bush told us we needed to get vengeance for Saddam Hussein gassing the Kurds , but he never mentioned that the Kurds were gassed while his father was President and that his father at the time did not bat an eyelash.

Veterans (US)- People who were in the military or naval service of the US, and promised certain benefits in return for their service, if they lived to claim them, and then were periodically discouraged from claiming them, as is being done now by the Bush Administration.

Victory - Achieving a goal at the expense of something or someone else. The goal is often redefined as its original basis proves spurious or as its attainment becomes less likely. The definition of victory in the US invasion of Iraq first proved to be falsely based and then became illusory and now seems to be shifting and unattainable in the foreseeable future.

Vindictive - Punishment with expected delight, which never lives up to its billing.

Violence - Physical force prone to causing injury, considered illegal in most instances, unless called a sport or a justified war.

Virginity - Absence of experience. Though it can apply to any type experience, it is most commonly applied to the act of sexual intercourse - and at a higher level to olive oil, which can be extra virgin. Incidentally, I believe Olive Oyl remained a virgin. Sweet Pea was not the child of Popeye, and though the cartoons are somewhat ambiguous, the earlier comics indicate Sweet Pea was a foundling and neither Olive Oyl nor Popeye was a parent.

Voting - Giving those considered qualified the opportunity to participate in the election of an officeholder or in making the decision on a proposition. A revered methodology to Democrats. To Republicans, an alterable process to be manipulated at the qualification level (such as the fraudulent Florida voter roll purges), at the participatory level (such as the Ohio voting booth shortages in Democratic precincts), and ultimately at the decision level (such as the Republicans on the US Supreme Court stopping the vote count and awarding the Presidency to Bush).