The US Congress has been debating a Constitutional Amendment which would make English the official language of our country. It's too late.

We have a new language now which requires the use of far fewer words than traditional English. Anyone arriving from overseas (legally or otherwise) will find it much easier to learn our language than before. As long as they can use brief phrases and words such as 'like', 'you know', 'ya know what I'm saying', and 'yawh", then they will adapt very quickly. The multiple use of the word 'like' as a filler is especially handy.

Don't know what I mean? Try watching TV sports program interviews with NFL or NBA players.
"What, Mr. _______ (Star Athletic), was going through your mind when you scored the final touchdown to win it for _______ (Team of your choice)?"
"Well, you know like it was a good game ya know. Like I was fortunate to be able to like use my God-given talents to like, ya know, help my team mates. Yawh know what I'm saying?" Most professional athletes have, theoretically, been through our college system. Only a handful, Tom Jackson, Shannon Sharpe among them, seem capable of stringing together a coherent sentence. (Note: I was born in the south and I don't even know what yawh means.)

The overuse, or abuse, of the word "like" is pandemic. What happens if someone actually wants to say what they really like? How would we know? If they have a dislike for something, the sentence would come out, "I really and truly like hate broccoli."

I go to a local gym to run on a treadmill, do some resistance exercises, and to stretch my aging body, several times a week. Often I find myself next to ladies, obviously friends, working out side-by-side on either the exercise cycles, or on the treadmills. To be heard above the noise, and perhaps to overcome their shortness of breath, they seem to talk more loudly than they would normally. These ladies are wives and mothers and they appear well educated and intelligent. Topics of discussion usually include husbands, children, school, shopping etc.

What I overheard this morning went something like this:
"Well, it was like the mall was like really like busy you know. Like, it was really like hard to get a parking place like near the Foley's entrance."
"Like I know. I like had the same problem and like wondered if it was like worth the time. Ya know what I'm saying?"

Rest in Peace old friend. You will be missed.