Figures of speech have a rich history

To the editor:

I'm sympathetic to Paul M. Winistorfer's concerns ('For survivors of violence, words can hurt,” Dec. 26), but find myself unwilling to proscribe the 'gun and bullet euphemisms” he lists in his column. As a volunteer reader with sixth-graders, I spend a great deal of time explaining the origins and meanings of such figures of speech to young readers, who are often 'in the dark” when they encounter them.

The English language is a wonderful, organic and evolving creation that, with rare exceptions, is ill-served by any narrow policing.

Euphemism, metaphor, and simile are part of the beauty and utility of that language, along with the continual introduction of new words.

If I teach sixth-graders the archaisms, they teach me their new words; techno and slang.

Ironically, Winistorfer left perhaps the most relevant gun euphemism off his list: the circular firing squad. The Republican presidential candidates still standing each try to be most outspoken in defense of gun rights (and immigration, abortion, climate change, etc.), all the while doing little but to ensure the election of Hillary Clinton.

Jim Walters

Iowa City