So Many Words, So Little Sense of History

Re “The ABCs of ‘03,” editorial, Oct. 16: It appears that every day a new word, phrase or name is shortened in the name of speed or in an attempt to be cool or cute. Instead of vegetables, guacamole, condominiums, medications, carbohydrates and abdominal muscles we now have veggies, guac, condos, meds, carbs and abs. I have really tried, unsuccessfully, to get used to the word “veggies,” a word used only by women for many years when speaking to their children and their female friends; but I suppose I’ll just have to get over it since even the men have begun using the term.

Excuse me now while I retire to my condo. It’s time to prepare the guac and veggies for my p.m. meal and take my meds so I can work off those carbs to keep my washboard abs and develop my pecs (almost forgot that one).

Adrienne Jonke

Anaheim

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The third paragraph of your editorial stopped me cold. The acronym “WWI” certainly did not come before “FDR,” nor was its first use, as you imply, concurrent with that of “TR” (who died in 1919)! As you well (or should) know, the last century’s first great conflagration was known as the Great War until 1939, when the next one began (or, as some historians would argue, the prior conflict rekindled). FDR, of course, was inaugurated in 1933.

Ken Neisser

Los Angeles