Wednesday’s Child: Wheat of the Saracen (Free)
“Idiot!” exclaims the driver of the car I’m in, referring to the man ahead who has just pulled out, or cut him up, or whatever it is that motorists do to each other which they oughtn’t. In exclaiming thus he pronounces judgment on his fellow man where the verdict is shorter than a sentence. It’s called an insult. An insult is different from a slur in that no inferences are drawn about the person apart from those suggested by his behavior of the moment. He was cursed, yet remains a stranger. Calling the erratic driver in front a “bastard” would...