I never would have called all the people who fled New Orleans refugees. The thought never occurred to me to think of a hurricane escapee in the same manner of someone escaping a harsh government or war in an underdeveloped country. This is America, isn't it?
Taken directly from Houghton Mifflin Company via Answers.com
ref·u·gee (rĕf'yʊ-jē') pronunciation
n.
One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.
ref·uge (rĕf'yūj) pronunciation
n.
1. Protection or shelter, as from danger or hardship.
2. A place providing protection or shelter.
3. A source of help, relief, or comfort in times of trouble.
Hmmm... Were the radical Islamists right in saying that this was punishment for being Americans? Something to think about. I guess that by definition, these people were refugees, and many still are since they've nowhere to go. They're homeless, tired, sick, and dying. And it's not their fault.
The other word I heard today on NPR as they were telling me that the President was to address the nation tonight, and he may name a czar of the recovery effort for the area affected by hurricane Katrina. Czar.
Czar? Lemme look that up.
Taken directly from Houghton Mifflin Company via Answers.com
czar (zär, tsär)
n.
1. also tsar or tzar (zär, tsär) A male monarch or emperor, especially one of the emperors who ruled Russia until the revolution of 1917.
2. A person having great power; an autocrat: “the square-jawed, ruddy complacency of Jack Farrell, the czar of the Fifteenth Street police station” (Ernest Hemingway).
3. Informal. An appointed official having special powers to regulate or supervise an activity: a racetrack czar; an energy czar.
I guess the people at NPR were being informal, but it was odd hearing that word used in reference to an official in this country. I'm not saying it's bad, but one doesn't on a normal day hear "czar" used very often outside of history class or international news.
These are my thoughts, and yes, they are random.
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