Word Smith: Catafalque
Peggy Noonan always finds a word that is linguistically perfect for the Op Ed she is writing for the Wall Street Journal. I find myself wondering the meaning of her language and hopping to a thesaurus app to decipher its meaning. She is, time and time again, spot ON with her deeper understanding. This week (September 20, 2025) she is talking about the upcoming funeral of Charlie Kirk. She drops in the word catafalque: It’s an Italian word (pronounced: ˈkadəˌfalk’) referring to a decorated wooden framework that supports the coffin of a distinguished person (head of state) during a funeral or while lying in state for viewing and mourning. It’s about John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King and Jimmy Carter and much more.
Our country is just such a state, where a normal citizen, not a head of state, is maliciously gunned down during a peaceful rally and debate on a college campus in Utah. It is truly time to cover the body, respect the man, honor the death of a fellow human being. May his catafalque be carried by a worthy caisson (horse-drawn two-wheeled wagon).
It is well-past time for America to get about the business of civil discourse, respect for rights, and tolerance of opinions elaborated in the town square. That worthy sentiment has been squashed in the First Amendment sweepstakes. The cancel culture has been damaging. May civility survive and free thinking and unencumbered speaking prevail! Our fragile democracy depends on it.
Henry E. Hooper 