1. a visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it; nearsightedness. Also called short sight. 2. lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning
Part two of a three-word series based on a single sentence from Maureen Dowd’s recent editorial, “Christmas Eve of Destruction“:
[Rumsfeld’s] disgraceful admission that his condolence letters to the families of soldiers killed in Iraq were signed by machine – “I have directed that in the future I sign each letter,” he said in a Strangelovian statement – is redolent of the myopia that has led to the dystopia.
I like how the first definition of myopia is literal and the second is figurative.
Interesting that in the case the word myopic is in fact misused. If you chop the sentence down to “Rumseld’s disgraceful admission … is redolent of the myopia that has led to … ” it is clear the word is being used to modify his _admission_ of poor planning and foresight, not to the actual poor planning.
Admitting a mistake of any kind could not be considered myopic even if the mistake was the direct result of myopia.