A friend in France taught us a new word, ''pfffffft!'' I discovered traveling in that country earlier this month that it is used almost universally there by young and old. Usually delivered with an exasperated shrug of the shoulders, wag of the head and skyward rolling of the eyes, it is a term perfectly suited to deal with situations that are otherwise, well, unspeakable. French have
a word for itThis verbal explosion of exasperation is a Gallic way of coping. When all other words fail, pfffffft! says it perfectly.
Christian, our friend, says the French have a lot to be exasperated about. As Charles de Gaulle supposedly once said, political accord is virtually impossible in a nation that produces 200 different kinds of cheese.
It was also de Gaulle who said, ''The graveyards are full of indispensable men.'' I found this insight apt when I returned to find the newspaper, if not the state of Hawaii, running smoothly while I was abroad.
But of course -- as the French say -- the general's most memorable remark was ''I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.'' Sorting through the outcome of the last legislative session, which ground mercifully to a halt in my absence, I can see his point.
Gov. Ben Cayetano gave lawmakers a grade of B-plus. Considering what needed doing and what got done, a better grade might have been pfffffft! Pass the cheese, s'il vous plait.
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 525-8612, fax to 523-8509, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.