| Summary: | Newfie n "Newfie" not acceptable I should like to comment on two let- ters that appeared in your columns last week. No. 1) I strongly support the pro- test of your correspondent of Friday, August 19, 1989, re the alternative use of the term Newfie for Newfound- lander. The word _Newfie_ has sadly become more and more incorporated into our speech, our own people being the chief offenders, either by using it or permitting it. Efforts should be made to halt its further progress, those who resent it keeping before the pub- lic its origin. People who did not know World War Two would not know the derisive, patronizing thrust of the word, and in time we might expect to see it explained in our his- tory books as an accepted alterna- tive for Newfoundland or Newfound- lander. No. 2) On satire re Religion in schools (Telegram, Aug, 19, 1989): "I've known more educated nuts in my day than I care to think of," said a retired police officer recently. "Educated nuts" may cut great figures in this world, but if their aspi- rations go no further they are limited indeed and tragically impoverished in their life. It is to offset the possibility of grad- uating mere "educated nuts" that our people have insisted that our school curriculum be compenetrated with religion in atmosphere and orientation. What is religion, any- way? It is the relationship of man with his Creator. It is a question of justice, isn't it? "The fool has said in his heart "There is no God." Another purpose of the religion-influenced curric- ulum: To reduce the number of fools in the world. One great means of appreciating the purpose of the few decades of life we spend here is to be capable of in- terpreting human history knowled- gably, following the line of truth through it, which truth will even- tually triumph when time has run its designated course. St. Thomas Aquinas had a saying: Honor is in him who honors. So it is with ridicule. It has a way of coming back on oneself. Re No 1: In September, 1973, I wrote to the Catholic Register, To- ronto, as ...
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