I am unsure if many realise what an amazing, living language we speak. The English language goes well back into history, calling on words from diverse languages. I suspect that 200 years (or even more) ago even a Londoner north of the Thames would struggle to understand what a Londoner south of the Thames was saying.
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This is no different to 2021. As a rather old chap, I struggle to understand what my grandchildren are saying.
Some old words have new meanings. "Virtual" used to mean "almost" but not quite. To me, in particular the ABC news, virtual means certainty. "Icon" used to be (and still is) a religious painting. Today we have iconic footballers, buildings and virtually your choice.
Then those big words. "Unbelievable" meant not able to be believed but today we use it meaning that it is believable, it has happened, so you had better believe it. And a last one, but not the finish of the list, "awesome". In my early years this word meant it would inspire you with awe usually because it was so big. Today most common or garden things are referred to as awesome.
The next time my grandsons are discussing the finer points of basketball or AFL I will listen for words like unbelievable and ask them what these words mean to them. I'm never too old to learn new things.
Alastair Bridges, Wanniassa
End the conflict
The Middle East faces another assault on Palestinian and Israeli families as a result of the theft of land from the Palestinians in 1948 for a Jewish homeland and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The combination of Israeli political dysfunction and Palestinian outrage is made all the more complex by the $4 billion a year donated to Israel by the USA for its military budget and the acquiescence to Netanyahu's brutality by countries like Australia.
The road to peace lies on the other side of the political grave of Netanyahu, his imprisonment or both. The only winners are the weapons salesmen.
Gerry Gillespie, Queanbeyan
Fund the National Archives
I heard the story of an Australian trying to research a relative who had been executed in a Japanese POW camp. His mates had written tributes which ended up in the National Archives, available to the family.
The Coalition is spending $500 million on a few war stories which, in order to be properly appreciated, have to be accompanied by a gallery of big weapons. Meanwhile hundreds of other stories are being lost, mouldering to dust for want of a tiny fraction of that amount of money.
They cherry-pick our heritage for the bits that suit them and bung them on an expensive glitzy pedestal, while the rest can go to hell. Isn't that the Coalition all over.
S W Davey, Torrens
Technology not enough
In his budget speech Josh Frydenberg addressed climate change by repeating the words of Scott Morrison: "Australia is playing its part on climate change, having met our 2020 commitments and on track to meet and beat our 2030 target. Australia is on the pathway to net zero and our goal is to get there as soon as we possibly can, preferably by 2050 ... technology not taxes."
There was no commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, as offered by 77-plus nations and all Australian states and territories. When will this government realise nations must commit, not to net-zero emissions by 2050, but net-zero by 2030, if we are to avoid the worst effects of global heating?
Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Sticks and stones
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been called many names during his tenure to date, all derogatory.
Some of these are justifiable, some are not. But they are all irrelevant as, at the end of the day, it's the results that count.
Australia under existing highly extenuating circumstances worldwide, appears to have weathered the storm, and the recovery back to "normal" is exceeding all expectations.
This is so much so that we are now the envy of the world, together with our neighbour New Zealand.
As PM, Morrison should be receiving some credit for his handling of the situation instead of nothing but brickbats.