Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Pathos

Today is Wednesday, 27 June 2007.

From the Compact Oxford English Dictionary:

pathos

/paythoss/

(noun) a quality that evokes pity or sadness.

ORIGIN: Greek, ‘suffering’.

In The New York Times of Sunday past, a photograph by Khalid Mohammed/Associated Press, with the caption:

“Salim Akram, left, sold his household belongings under a bridge in the Fashil neighborhood of Baghdad yesterday. After his brother was killed two months ago, Mr. Akram, 35, decided to move to Syria. He is selling his possessions so he can afford passports for himself and his relatives.”

His possessions include plates, cups, saucers, and, most pathetically (see pathos), what is either a bundt pan or perhaps a tangine.

Our tax dollars at work, for VICTORY! and the Mission Accomplished!

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