An interesting word prompt arrived in my inbox today, one that wouldn’t normally interest me except that I taught an eighth-grade science class this week. The word is “assay.” It’s not used a lot in day-to-day speech, but it should be.
It’s defined as “an investigative procedure [in science] for qualitatively assessing or quantitatively measuring the presence, amount, or functional activity of a target entity.” The word comes from fourteenth century Anglo-French “assai,” meaning “trial, test of quality, test of character.”
For instance, if you wanted to test the character or functional activity of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) — America’s biggest D.C. shindig for conservative Republicans each year — you would investigate who pays for it and who takes the stage.
The National Rifle Association is generally a big contributor to the event, including sponsoring the festive Ronald Reagan dinner. This year, the money behind the dinner is being kept secret.
Also not made public was the big speech by the NRA’s chief executive Wayne LaPierre. As survivors of the latest school massacre made their way to the nation’s capitol to plead for controls on the lethal weapons that murdered their friends and so many others, CPAC made public their schedule of speakers. LaPierre’s appearance was nowhere to be seen. But lo and behold, he’s on the stage as I write.
He’s the GOP’s secret weapon, literally.
Republicans may be ashamed or afraid to let the public know that the NRA is paying for and speaking at their conference, but they cannot hide the NRA contributions coming straight into their campaign coffers. That’s how we know that when the man who sometimes sits in the Oval Office in between golf games takes the stage at CPAC tomorrow, he’ll be standing on bales of NRA cash that helped get him into office: thirty million bucks, to be exact.
It’s a pretty simple assay experiment to test the character and “functional activity” of the GOP these days. Even high school students can do it.
Fandango
Feb 22, 2018 @ 21:25:05
“…the character … of the GOP these days.” There is no character anymore in the GOP.
theceaselessreaderwrites
Feb 22, 2018 @ 15:21:42
I like your blog, Melanie. I hope to see you here in the Daily Post more often!
melanielynngriffin
Feb 22, 2018 @ 15:59:46
Thanks for visiting – I’m checking out your short stories.
theceaselessreaderwrites
Feb 22, 2018 @ 16:12:13
Wonderful, I’d love to hear what you think!
melanielynngriffin
Feb 22, 2018 @ 16:07:04
Thanks for visiting. I just followed you on Goodreads. Look forward to more of your fiction!
Sorry, I meant for this to be one reply, not two!
theceaselessreaderwrites
Feb 22, 2018 @ 16:25:23
My pleasure, you have a great blog!
theceaselessreaderwrites
Feb 22, 2018 @ 16:26:25
My turn for superfluous replies. I’m much more active on WordPress these days than I am on Goodreads!
Take care, be well, and happy blogging!
Denny
Ralph
Feb 22, 2018 @ 13:29:31
Hi Melanie
Of the 3 things that galvanize the Republican party (2nd amendment gun rights, opposition to abortion and immigration) the gun rights issue is in first place. Like it or not the second amendment is pretty clear about keeping and bearing arms. I agree with the majority of Americans about the enormity of the Parkland shooting tragedy. Unfortunately, I don’t see any kind of gun control coming as a result of the carnage.
God’s peace
Ralph
melanielynngriffin
Feb 22, 2018 @ 14:40:03
I disagree – the 2nd amendment is not at all clear, which is why the Supreme Court over time has been all over the map and has upheld bans on certain guns and/or gun buyers. There’s tremendous legal debate over what a ‘well-regulated militia” means, and of course any of us could argue about how a nineteen year old’s right to own an assault weapon conflicts with the rights of school children for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Plus, Republicans got increasingly anti-gun control during the time that Obama was in office, but are already swinging back towards supporting common sense controls.
This is not hopeless, and I believe that it will be the young people who save us from this absurdity. Just like Vietnam. 🙂
J.Lesher
Feb 22, 2018 @ 16:10:59
If we take the 2d amendment to its extreme, we all could be considered to have the right to have nuclear arms or biological weapons. I know it seems ridiculous but why not? Those are considered “arms” aren’t they? Clearly the Founding Fathers never contemplated the type of weapons (“arms”) we have today. Also I don’t think they would have said the right was not subject to any limitations.
melanielynngriffin
Feb 22, 2018 @ 16:16:16
It makes no sense at all. Very, very surreal and it speaks to a real sickness, I think.
@jane02050
Feb 22, 2018 @ 12:37:52
you hit it out of the park today. thank you!
Michelle at The Green Study
Feb 22, 2018 @ 10:59:46
I am so angry about the shamelessness so brazenly on display by these shills. Fortunately, nothing assuages rage better than funding candidates and joining organizations that will fight to replace these inveterate morons with candidates who have common sense. If there is anything to be said about these times, it is that they have animated the silent majority.
melanielynngriffin
Feb 22, 2018 @ 11:10:33
I am so encouraged by the students stepping up. Truth to power!