Fog can be dangerous. By definition, fog is vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near the ground. In political speech, for example, fog is a state of confusion or bewilderment; something that confuses or obscures. In both definitions, the result can create disaster if not dealt with “in wisdom and clarity.”

Taking flying lessons, I learned to respect the meteorological definition. I remembered a tragedy near my college campus. A local businessman who owned an airplane, was showing the city to a college athlete. It was a late afternoon flight and lasted a bit too long. Fog settled in, and the pilot was not instrument-rated. Apparently, the pilot, seeing the lights of the four-lane highway thought it was the runway. Unfortunately, he crashed into a nearby pine thicket, and both the pilot and passenger were killed.

Foggy thinking can be dangerous also. There is a carpenter’s rule; “Measure twice. Cut once!” And long before OSHA’s familiar warnings, we remember well the ubiquitous admonition, “Safety First!” Do you remember the Johnny Nash song entitled, “I Can See Clearly Now”?

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day

Clouds are just fog with altitude. All this aside, it is clear (pun intended) that clear planning and clear thinking are crucial to congenial living. Unfortunately, there is a profusion of foggy language as our state and national laws are used, abused, and confused, all too often. By flooding discussions with foggy language, peppered with high sounding terms, sinister promoters can have the sound of authority, with little or only sketchy content.

“Word salad,” is one way to describe a foggy speech, where the intent is to confuse or diffuse facts to the audience. Shakespear’s McBeth says it better in his soliloquy, after the death of Lady McBeth; he faced the meaninglessness of life. He said, life is “…full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

In the Bible, the Book of James (5:12) there is a strong admonition to keep your language out of the foggy range; speak with a simple “Yes” or “No,” or else you may fall under judgment.

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2026