Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. The word itself is an oxymoron, from the Greek, it means "sharp/dull", which is a contradiction in terms!

The reference isn't to physical sharpness like a knife, but to mental sharpness... like intellengent/stupid or quick witted/slow witted.

Jumbo shrimp!
Modest magnificence!
Military Intelligence!
Male Lady Bug!
Man Child!

Here's a good one for mac lovers - Microsoft Works!

Just to be fair, one for PC lovers - Apple Tech Support!

I love this form of language. It expresses a curious exception to the thought that two condradictory thoughts cannot at the same time be true. But, from a certain point of view, two contradictory thoughts do seem to be true. Hang in there, I'm almost done.

A great man can be humble.

The poor rich man.

The rich poor man.

As Jesus said to the rich man, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me."

I think God loves oxymorons too.

Idioms

In the fullness of time, the boy will become a man.

This phrase interests me. It seems to mean that there is an appointed time for something to happen. If something happens in the fullness of time, it will happen when the time is right and appropriate... ie. "becoming a man".

It's an idiom.

Idioms are hard to understand when learning foreign languages. You can't translate an idiom literally.

I once said to a group of Japanese that someone was "chicken"... meaning they were afraid. The Japanese group immediately went into a huddle, and after a few seconds, the spokesperson asked, "What means... "chicken". I laughed (at myself) for not being clear in my language.

I replied that when we say that someone is "chicken", we mean that they are afraid to do something.

Idioms can be fun.

Diversity

The Universe is as diverse as it is seemingly endless. Special recognition of diversity, in regards to race or ethnic origin, seems superficial to me. It's like saying that since most apples are red, then special recognition should be given to green apples. If you're trying to sell green apples, it makes sense. You'd want to promote green apples.

Our society trying to emphasize diversity is just "spin". It's the branding of our spin doctors. They want people to be "accepting" of one another. Jesus hit the nail on the head. He said, "Love one another." If you really love one another, diversity doesn't matter. Your gender, age, race, religion, profession, size, color, nationality, ethnicity, normality, or psycho-babbel are all a part of who you are. Loving one another is accepting all the qualities (or quantities) of another person. It doesn't mean you LIKE every aspect of another person, but it simply means that you love that person as a whole - irregardless of their personal attributes.

Now... some find that hard to accept. THEY say that if you truly love them, you MUST love all the aspects of who they are.

NOT TRUE!

A wife loves her husband. She doesn't like the fact that he is messy, or smokes, or pickes his nose... but she loves him.

If I have to choose an apple. I'd probably choose the red apple. But that doesn't mean that I don't like green apples. They taste pretty much the same.