Running Unopposed

Oct 15, 2009

The existence of words with negative prefixes and no positive opposites bothers me.  For example you can be inscrutable, but not scrutable, inept but not ept, nonplussed but not plussed, feckless but not fecked (unless you’re Irish), dishevelled, but not shevelled, and so on.

What bothers me about this is you can be negative with no positive opposite, but not positive with no negative opposite. Anyone who can be happy could also be unhappy, anyone typical; atypical. Not only could a moral person become immoral, he could also be amoral and non-moral and even anti-moral!

So I’m sitting here reading a “patient’s fact sheet” on a procedure during which some doctor plans to inject gamma radiation, wanting very much to be able to think of an a positive word that cannot be opposed by a negative one.  The concept came to mind because of two opposing (in my view) “facts” from said “fact-sheet”.

Q. Is the radiation dangerous?
A. No. the amount of radiation is small, similar to that from an X-ray examination.

…

Q. What do I need to do after the test?
A. As you will be slightly radioactive after the test, please avoid close contact with children for the rest of the day. Close contact means having a child sit next to you or on your knee for more than half an hour.

So you see my problem, no?

Once, a few years back, I was getting ready to be taken into surgery, and the surgeon said, “How are you feeling?” “Nervous,” I replied. “Nervous?” (Doctors do that… repeat back what you have just said rather than asking a proper question.) “Yes, nervous. Soon I will be naked, unconscious, and surrounded by men with knives.” I actually stumped him.

My sweetheart once explained to me something about British political doings. When a Speaker of the House of Commons (referee) is appointed, he comes from one of the political parties. But upon assuming his Speakerly duties, he disclaims his previous party affiliation.  In return, when his term is up, he runs unopposed in his constituency, basically guaranteeing him is job until he retires, or until he commits such gross acts of incompetence that the House of Commons passes a vote of “No Confidence” (gives him the boot).

I love that phrase… running unopposed. I imagine running through a field of bright yellow flowers, tall enough that I can run my fingers over their tops. Run, run run… unopposed, unstopped, unaware of even the possibility of future resistance.

Life should not be effortless, otherwise we would never learn or grow. We’d all be spoiled blobs waiting for the future to hand us the next treat. But wouldn’t it be nice if there was just a little less opposition?