THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090654
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Do you think we should abolish the phrase ``a defining moment,'' heard with maddening frequency?
For me, the defining moment to junk it lay in the start of a recent TV documentary on World War II.
``For most Americans,'' the commentator said, ``World War II was a defining moment.''
Defining moment, my eye!
It was a defining cataclysm for the world, a massive shakeup of humanity to which the dropping of the atom bomb proved the finale, still reverberating.
Within that war were millions of defining moments for men and women. Some were small things looming large for individuals:
Their first day on an assembly line at home. First day at sea, leaning over the railing. A letter arriving at home or camp after a long lapse. First time on KP amid pots and pans. An airman's solo flight. A soldier under fire.
For us now, any dizzying day brims with defining moments of beauty, ugliness, tragedy, hilarity. When first used, ``defining moment'' may have been arresting. By now, it's a throat-clearing cliche trivializing anything it addresses.
Many words are being expended these days over the impending novel, ``1945,'' that Newt Gingrich co-authored with another history professor.
On NBC's ``Meet the Press'' last week, moderator Tim Russert read a passage that began:
``He was overwhelmed by the sight of her, the shameless pleasure she took in her own body. Suddenly the pouting sex kitten gave way to Diana the huntress. She rolled onto him, sitting athwart his chest, her knees pinning his shoulders. `Tell me, or I'll make you do terrible things.' ''
That claptrap is intended to set up a hot sex vignette.
Have you read anything more sophomoric?
Why, it's like a parody of atrocious writing.
Let me tell you the terrible secret that will be disclosed in August by the professors' book.
The word for that passage is not ``pornographic,'' not ``obscene,'' but ``boring.''
It is just one long, trailing cliche, forecasting for the finished work nothing redeeming of scientific, artistic or social value.
The key word of the three is ``artistic.'' If a love story has blazing imagery, genuine dialogue and an honest plot, anything else will be forgiven.
Given a month's vacation and writing without restraint but truly of what we know, any one of us could do better. Far better.
I don't believe the duo that concocted that drudge of a passage is capable of expressing love in print.
Finally, I owe an apology to Mrs. Slocombe, the grand dame of the British comedy ``Are You Being Served?'' I called her ``lewd.'' That's unkind. She's a merry old soul. The word for her is ``ribald.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
When first used, ``defining moment'' mah have been arresting. By
now, it's a throat-clearing cliche trivializing anything it
addresses.
by CNB