Should be a capital crime to murder the Queen's English

Yes, I have said it in the past, but it merits repetition. I hate 'trendy' uses of words, the more because said uses generally combine condescension with destruction of what often is a word's perfectly honourable meaning. 'Quality' was a perfectly decent word, until it became a cliché when linked with 'time.' (Somehow, quality now meant compensation for neglect.) Now that secretaries are 'administrative professionals,' as if their own profession were shameful, those who spent years in (what truly was) administration all have to revise their CVs. Nor do I wish to hear about 'issues'! (I used to refer to 'issues' frequently - until it became a euphemism for 'problem,' in these days when no one can admit that everyone has some.) Honestly, I had someone this week refer to her car's having 'engine issues.' I doubt the car's self-esteem would have been wounded had she used the other, more accurate term.

Once upon a time, "comfort" was a wonderful word - richly referring either to contentment or the relief of suffering. Those who could genuinely offer comfort were gifted souls indeed. That lovely word has now been ruined totally. It was bad enough when cook books suddenly eliminated such perfectly good terms as 'soup,' or 'starter' or 'stew,' and left cooks wondering what on earth 'comfort' is when it is in a pot. And worse yet when those who wished to make money trading on people's insecurity began to be proponents of the view of the pathetic neurotic turning to her 'comfort foods.' But now, we have the worst of all - and a term suddenly, rudely popular within the Church. "Comfort zones."

In a nutshell, if a congregation's taste is for, perhaps, an elegant service from the Prayer Book - or a dignified Roman Catholic Eucharist - and someone with different ideas wishes to replace the services with light-rock music and wording changed so that (perhaps) God no longer has mercy but is just 'with us on our journey' , and the congregation objects, it does not mean that their views are solid and should be treated with respect. No - the innovations are beyond their 'comfort zone.'

I must read some Shakespeare this evening... I want to believe that the English language has a certain earthy perfection that can never die...