Are Euphemisms missing the meaning?

Dear Editor,  April 22, 2024

Language revolution!  We went from “illegal immigrant” to “undocumented alien” to “undocumented noncitizen” to “migrants” to “newcomers” and it has sparked praise and outrage.  Maybe something like “extra-legal migrant” might satisfy both sides because “extra” has 2 meanings as in MORE or OUTSIDE OF, so both sides can agree!  You could even go with “extra-legal voter” or “extra-legal para citizen”.

We could change even more harsh words into softer tones such as:

Murderer:   unauthorized population reducer

Criminal:  unconventional law partaker

Terrorist:  passionate negative-emotion motivator

Genocide:   maximum gene elimination

Racist:   dermal shade rejecter

Gender:   misogynistic forced assignment of unnatural roles OR God given  differences

Free speech:   only neutral words that convey nothing

Maybe the government could punish people for using words that are not approved by some shadowy unelected agency.   I’m sure we could come up with a new dictionary of terms that will satisfy everyone, even the gluteus maximus apertures.

Leighton Loo

Mililani, Oahu

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April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month

Dear Editor,   April 1, 2024

In 2019, I was struck by a large garbage truck while jogging. As a result, I underwent multiple surgeries, had my left leg reconstructed, and my right leg amputated below the knee. Becoming an amputee has been an eye-opening journey into our health/insurance systems and ableist structures. It has been an experience I find myself still navigating and compelled to advocate for. The disability community is the only community anyone can join at any time, regardless of age, gender, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, etc.

I wrote this letter to bring awareness to Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLDAM), which occurs during the month of April from the 1st to the 30th every year. On April 12th, I will be attending the first ever gubernatorial proclamation signing in our state with Governor Josh Green to designate April as LLLDAM in the state of Hawaii. Awareness is the first step in a better direction.

There are approximately 2.1 million Americans living with limb loss and limb difference. Over 500 Americans lose a limb every day. Approximately 1,000 children are born each year in the United States with congenital limb differences. Access to appropriate prosthetic care for people living with limb loss and limb difference is vital to enable individuals to reach their full potential, live independently, and live well.

I love my home state of Hawaii, but of all places, we cannot enjoy our beaches and mountains without accessibility and the proper prosthetic devices which medical insurance deems a luxury. Hawaii is in better need of support resources. We need to take care of our people and give them what they need to live as anyone else in this state is able to. Just as it was me, it could be any of you.

Ke aloha nō,

Heather Shorey

Holualoa, Hawaii