An oxymoron is a phrase that, in essence, contradicts itself. A phrase like “falling up stairs” is an oxymoron. Here are a few fun ones:
- A little pregnant
- Almost safe
- Active retirement
- Child proof
- Complete Separation
- Dead Livestock
- Devout Atheist
- Dodge Ram
- Kosher ham
- Legally drunk
- Live recording
- Minor miracle
- Obscene art
- Relative stranger
Well, you get the idea. For me “good coffee” is an oxymoron.
I read in a magazine an advertisement for help with conception in childless couples. A fertility institute said this: “The future is now. You can pick the sex of your child, 100% guaranteed. The world’s largest sex selection clinic. Turning couples into families.” Wow! 100% guaranteed! That leads me to ask what happens if your child is a male and you wanted a female. “Oops, sorry, umm, let’s try again shall we?” What is the return policy? Do I need a receipt? How long do I get to determine their sex? What if they turn out gay? How, exactly, do you FIX the problem?
Okay, so maybe I am getting a little carried away here but I see at least three oxymorons. “The future is now” is an oxymoron. “100% guaranteed” is an oxymoron because IF IT IS 100% than it doesn’t need to be guaranteed now does it. The last oxymoron is “sex selection.” Hasn’t our modern day world determined that we are all equal, that there is no sexual orientation or sex-ness in individuals? The Netherlands has identified 7 different “sexes” so which should the parents determine their child should be. Or, shouldn’t the child determine that later in life?
What we have here is the results of technology and social liberal ideals colliding. This creates oxymoronic situations like suicide being called “death with dignity” and murder being called “choice” and now “sex selection.” China has a very effective sexual selection program since they are only allowed one child per family: parents will kill the child if not the one wanted. Often I wonder if Human Intelligence is an oxymoron.