Quote 8 of 495
The forced resignation of Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, following
her suggestion that masturbation was "part of something that perhaps
should be taught," is a small gift for lovers of what H.L. Mencken
called the American language. It has inspired a new phrase in an area
that has always been blessed for its vigor and inventiveness. Around
Washington, the new term for the act of loving thyself as well as (if
not better than) thy neighbor is, reliable sources say, `firing the
Surgeon General'.
-- Michael Kelly in _The New Yorker_, December 26
1994--January 2 1995, p. 52
Tags: suggestion phrase neighbor resignation newyorker vigor december26 reliablesources michaelkelly americanlanguage hlmencken surgeongeneraljoycelyn surgeongeneraljoycelynelders