Well since we're backpedaling: http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/grammarlogs3/grammarlogs499.htm Generally, we capitalize the word state only when it appears after a state's name, as in "We will travel to Washington State this summer." (But make sure that your reader won't confuse your intentions with a visit to the university known as Washington State. Perhaps "state of Washington" would be better.) In the phrase "state of Hawaii," you don't capitalize the word state. And I wouldn't capitalize the word in your construction "Hawaii state schools" because that might mislead readers into thinking these are somehow, officially, state schools (like state universities), as opposed to being local public institutions. Finally, don't capitalize the word state when it's being used as a substitute for the state's name, as in "My father works for the state." It is capitalized, however, in imaginative names such as "the Nutmeg State," "the Empire State," "the Aloha State," and we capitalize "States" when we say things like "We're returning to the States after twenty years in Europe."
The original discussion was based on this NY Post link: http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/33124.htm Yigal Carmon, president of MEMRI, said bin Laden used the Arabic term "ay-wilaya" to refer to a "state" in that sentence. That term "specifically refers to an American state, like Tennessee," Carmon said, adding that if bin Laden were referring to a "country" he would have used the Arabic word "dawla." MEMRI also translated an analysis of bin Laden's statement from the Islamist Web site al-Qal'a, well known for posting al-Qaeda messages, which agreed that bin Laden's use of the word "ay-wilaya" was meant as a "warning to every U.S state separately." So don't accuse me of mischaracterizing things. Blame the Post and MEMRI: The Middle East Media Research Institute. As for the joke, you have a very poor taste in humor. --- Gruss Gott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Sam wrote: > > Bin Laden said something like: "I'll attack states > > that support Bush." > > 1.) As much as you'd like to think that Mr. Bush is > a burly super hero > that makes villains quake in their boots and shoots > frickin' laser > beams from his eyes, real life is not a comic book. > This is what Bin > Laden said: > > "In conclusion, I tell you in truth, that your > security is not in the > hands of Kerry, nor Bush, nor al-Qaida. No. Your > security is in your > own hands. And every state that doesn't play with > our security has > automatically guaranteed its own security." > > There has been speculation that by "states" he meant > "individual > States of the United States" and further was > referring to the > election. Every friend I know that speaks Arabic > doesn't think that's > the case and no commentators I've listened to have > even suggested it > (NewsHour with Jim Lehrer). > > The quote above was taken from the al Jazeera > transcript - note that > even they did not capitalize "states" meaning their > translators view > the term as a generic reference to geopolitical > divisions. > > By continuing to mischaracterize world events you're > either hopped up > on goofballs or a fear monger. If want to continue > to push low > probability theories at least preface them with > "some have suggested > he said ..." > > > 2.) You and I were having this discussion and I > mentioned that, if you > were right, New York was safe. Others started > chiming in that they > were safe too. I said that the South wasn't and > someone joked, "who > cares." It was a joke! > > If you can't joke about Bin Laden then your his > victim. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Gold Sponsor - CFHosting.net http://www.cfhosting.net Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:134950 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
