Nature words

In a recent op ed column (Sept. 7), Thomas L. Friedman noted that in 2015 the Oxford Junior Dictionary, which is aimed at 7-year-olds, had dropped a number of “nature words” that the editors thought were no longer relevant to the modern child.  These words included “acorn,” “dandelion,” “fern,” “nectar,” “otter,” “pasture,” and “willow.”  

The dictionary added other words more relevant to today’s kid, including “broadband,” “blog,” “cut-and-paste,” “MP3 player,” and “voice-mail.”  

Does this make you as sad as it makes me?  We are losing touch with the natural world.  In fact, the natural world itself is disappearing.