Nü-kyu -le r

George W. Bush mispronounced the word “nuclear” in his seven State of the Union Addresses so many times that belligerent partygoers have created an annual drinking game to commemorate the infamous “thinko.”

Strangely enough, the “Bushism” is actually becoming widely used as some people blindly accept, and even perpetuate, the slaughter of the modern English language.

Even the liberal Merriam-Webster's Dictionary recorded the verbal blunder “nukular” as an alternate pronunciation for the correct version. The decision has resulted in an outpouring of comments from concerned citizens who are disillusioned with the direction our language is  taking.

The Merriam-Webster Web site has issued a letter responding to numerous questions about the fabricated term. It said:
“We do not list the pronunciation of ‘nuclear’ as an ‘acceptable’ alternative. We merely list it as an alternative. We are definitely not advocating that anyone should use the (nukular) pronunciation or that they should abandon the pronunciation (nuclear)…. All of the entries in our dictionary are based on usage. There is simply no scholarly basis for preferring one pronunciation form over another.”

The degree of literacy one appears to possess when speaking says a great deal about character, and this butchered word has apparently struck more nerves than sharp nails scratching a chalkboard.

In his 60 Minutes commentary, CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney responded to Bush’s persistent use of “nukular” in the State of the Union address.

"I wish President Bush would stop mispronouncing the word ‘nuclear’ when he speaks,” Rooney said. “He always calls it ‘nukular.’ ‘Free of nukular weapons…’…to acquire nukular weapons…to clean, safe nukular power.’ It makes you wonder how he graduated from Yale.”

Rooney paused for a moment in his classic style and said, “Wouldn't you think that Laura or one of the doormen at The White House would point out to him that the word is ‘nuclear,’ not nukular?”
Apparently not.

According to “Nuclear Options,” a New York Times column by William Safire, Bush is not the only person who has used the term. He writes that U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisen-hower, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have used the incorrect pronunciation as well.

When a candidate runs for office, he or she should make a concerted effort to speak intelligently. Words such as tabular, globular, tubular, vernacular, popular, spectacular and molecular might serve to trip up anyone when associated with the word “nuclear.” However, the public expects a higher standard of verbal intelligence from presidents. One-time mistakes are often forgiven, but this is a never-ending habit that needs breaking.

So you say, “What’s the big deal with a simple mispronunciation? Leave it alone.”

Perhaps we should not pick on people who are not 100 percent “comfterble” with the English language. “Nukular” quirks aside, Bush has plenty more where that came from. After all, when asked in June if the tide is turning in Iraq, he responded in his classic way.

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it’s easy to see a tide turn. Did I say those words?”

Yes, Mr. Bush. Yes, you did.