Seriously? Because Yes!!!

So, my friend Rita's son, Anthony, who I lovingly refer to as TNP, has created, what I believe, is a perfectly acceptable response to various types of questions. When asked why he is doing something or not doing something,for that matter,he will say "Because, yes." For example:

Rita: "Ant, why are you throwing a baseball in the kitchen?"
Anthony: "Because, yes."

Now this is not technically even a complete sentence. I suppose it could be considered a fragment, but until I get my hands on the most recent edition of Strunk and White's, The Elements of Style, for arguments sake, "because, yes" is not proper English. Yet, it works. Sometimes, we have no need to give more of an explanation other than "because, yes". Here are some questions that I am frequently asked where this response fits:

1. Why do I have to learn this?

Because, yes.

2. Why are you vacuuming again?

Because, yes.

3. Why don't you have any kids yet?

Because, yes.

4. Why do you often eat Zone bars for lunch?

Because,yes.

5. Why are you supervising that geeky club, Odyssey of the Mind?

Because, yes.

6. Why are you wearing a cardigan sweater, knee socks and no pants?

Because, yes.

Now, for an added challenge, guess who asks me those questions...Of course, I have provided an answer key. (1. students 2. husband 3. everyone 4. people at lunch 5. Roland Clark 6. that never happened)

This is clearly, a great go to response. Now, I will apply it to historical events/famous people and other instances we can all relate to on a more global, rather than personal level:

1. To the colonists prior to the Revolutionary War:

Why did you decide to overthrow your government, Mother England?
Because, yes.

2. To the kidnappers of the Lindburgh baby:

Why did you kidnap the Lindburgh baby?
Because, yes.

3. To Elvis Presely:

Why did you overdose on the toilet?
Because, yes.

4. To the Best Buy worker on Black Friday at 5 AM:

These items were just advertised on sale, your store just opened, and you are
already out of stock. No one has this (insert item you wanted here) in their
hands or hidden under their coat anywhere in the store. Why are you false
advertising?
Because, yes.

5. To: Bill Clinton:

Why did you have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky?
Because, yes.

Do you see the impact of this minute phrase???
The morale of this posting is, if I see "Because, yes" on a t-shirt or bumper sticker, I will know you cunningly stole the phrase from a four year old. Rita, get a copyright on this, STAT!!!
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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/because

Function: conjunction
Etymology: Middle English because that, because, from by cause that
Date: 14th century
1 : for the reason that : since
2 : the fact that : that the reason I haven't been fired is because my boss hasn't got round to it yet

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yes


Function: adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gēse
Date: before 12th century
1 —used as a function word to express assent or agreement
2 —used as a function word usually to introduce correction or contradiction of a negative assertion or direction
3 —used as a function word to introduce a more emphatic or explicit phrase
4 —used as a function word to indicate uncertainty or polite interest or attentiveness