Why aren't colons optional?

[Steve Holden]

"Edward K. Ream" <edream at tds.net> wrote in message
news:3C49FED0.8C0F254E at tds.net...
> Hi all,
>
> Why are colons required after def, elif, else, except, finally, for, if,
> try and while?  One would think the colon would be optional when the
> colon is followed by a newline.
>
[20 lines snipped, and forty bicycle-shed posts ignored...]

Because this is Python. More briefly: because.

regards
 Steve
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