On the recordJanuary 4, 1995
the English word ``irony'' comes to us from an Ancient Greek word meaning ``a dissembler in speech.'' The English word ``irony'' is defined as the contrast between something that somebody thinks to be true, as revealed in speech, action, or common wisdom, and that which an audience or a reader knows to be true. Mr. President, permit me to give an example. If anyone in the hearing of my voice will take out a U.S. one-dollar bill and turn that one-dollar bill over onto its obverse side, he or she will read in clear script, ``In God We Trust.'' Permit me to introduce another example. Every day of each new meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives, an official Chaplain of each of those two Chambers of Congress--or a designated substitute--will stride to the dais and address a sometimes elegant prayer to the Deity.…
Source
govinfo.gov
