In our continuing quest to revisit a classic, or even a curiosity from the past and see how relevant it is, we continue with The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. Originally published in newspaper installments from 1881 until 1906. You might be surprised how current many of the entries are.
For example, here is a definition for the words Un-American and Understanding. The Old definitions are Bierce’s. The New definitions are, in many cases, updates. Sometimes little change is needed. Sometimes more. From time to time, just as it was originally published, we will come back to The Devil’s Dictionary, for a look at it then and how it applies today. Click on Devil’s Dictionary in the tags below to bring up the other entries.OLD DEFINITION
Un-American, adj. Wicked, intolerable, heathenish.
Understanding, n. A cerebral secretion that enables one having it to know a house from a horse by the roof on the house. Its nature and laws have been exhaustively expounded by Locke, who rode a house, and Kant, who lived in a horse.
His understanding was so keen
That all things which he’d felt, heard, seen,
He could interpret without fail
If he was in or out of jail.
He wrote at Inspiration’s call
Deep disquisitions on them all,
Then, pent at last in an asylum,
Performed the service to compile ’em.
So great a writer, all men swore,
They never had not read before.
—Jorrock Wormley
NEW DEFINITION
Un-American, adj. Wicked, intolerable, heathenish.
Example, the rest of the world and the Democratic Party as defined by Faux News.
Example, anything the other politician stands for, even if it’s very much like what the accuser stands for.
Example, anything that requires understanding, or as one politician recently said, “big syllable words.”
Understanding, n. See Un-American.






Life is like a box of … politicians
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/mar/13/wine-in-grocery-stores-bill-dies-by-1-vote-in/?partner=popular
Wine-in-grocery-stores bill dies by 1 vote in House committee
Why is it in my state, Tennessee, I can walk into a Super Wal-Mart and buy a rack of lamb and a box of bullets, but I can’t go in a buy a rack of lamb and box of wine?
Tennessee State flag
Somehow, according to the fine, upstanding, bought and paid for, public servants in Nashville, it’s my God-given right if I want to buy something to potentially blow somebody else away, but heaven forbid if I want to buy something in a Super Wal-Mart, or even a “regular” grocery story, that might be used to “blow” myself away for a little while.
This in a state with a super-Republican majority in both the state House and Senate. This in the face of the Republican manta of less government. This in the thrall of hypocrisy about competition being the life blood of a “free market.”
It’s only less government if you buy it.
It’s only less government for you if you can make somebody else pay with a little less choice.
It’s only less government if you are the one defining it as so.
It’s only a box of … GOP politicians.
Yep, less government. Just big enough to fit in your bedroom.
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Tagged as commentary, GOP, political humor, politicians, rack of lamb, satire, state government, Tennessee, Wednesday