Posted on 01/25/2004 11:32:09 AM PST by chance33_98
Linguistic attacks leave Left crippled
In a June 14, 2003 interview for www.salon.com, Erica Jong, a master wordsmith in her own right ("Fear of Flying"), had this to say about words and politics: "The right wing has redefined reproductive choice. They've captured the language. They say that they're 'pro-life' and many young people think that they are pro-life, too. They (the right wing) won the linguistic debate. And when you win the linguistic debate, you've won the debate. Period."
Given the truth of this statement, the parlance of our times has never been so dangerous.
Tuesday's State of the Union Address shone light on a blade wielded so wisely and ferociously by the Right, a weapon bungled and broken by the Democratic Party. President Bush - or rather, his political cadre - have manipulated and mastered the arsenal of language, an arsenal that, fortunately for him and neocons everywhere, the American public has grossly underestimated.
Let's take a look at some choice excerpts from the president's current assessment of the United States. Bush spends a substantial amount of time defending an initiative that was central to his very election, the No Child Left Behind Act, an act that stipulates that children not be shuttled from grade to grade like so much livestock.
Now, who but an ogre would dare disagree with or oppose something so compassionate and forward thinking as this? Who, indeed, would say, "Hey, I want to leave children behind! I don't care a whit for them!" I bet those cold-hearted, flat-affected Democrats would. Bastards. Never mind the program is severely overburdened and underfunded, rendering Bush's promises totally hypocritical and void of meaning.
Another example of Bush's brilliance in the linguistic arena comes with the Patriot Act, and his assertions that this act protects our nation's very security. Who, among you readers, desires to be unpatriotic? I can think of no person who craves that label, who spends fervent nights awake lamenting his classification as a supporter of his country and all it stands for.
And, of course, the kicker comes with Bush's declaration that, "Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage." Actually, no, President Bush. I have long thought marriage should be a profane institution relegated solely to reality television shows and Las Vegas wedding chapels, only to be quickly annulled the following day.
Kidding aside, we begin to see the veiled acumen of Republicans' stake on euphemisms. Everyone loves children and has a vested interest in their future. We all strive to embody patriotism, especially post-Sept. 11. No one, in her heart of hearts, wants to see a mockery made of marriage.
Therein lies the majesty of what the Right has done. Everyone agrees with them. Reviewing the text of Bush's State of the Union, I agree wholeheartedly with practically everything he says. And when people are in agreement, they tend not to delve deeply into details. And why should they? They believe the president is in their corner, that they share a common, hallowed ground.
However, when you scrape away the surface sheen of language, you begin to see the Patriot Act severely undermines our civil liberties by allowing the government to monitor our actions and disclose our confidential personal information to innumerable "intelligence" agencies of questionable legitimacy. Peel away the pretty words, and you find "sanctity of marriage" applies not to those who would love and honor one another, but only to men and women, regardless of what they would do to pervert the love implicit in such a union.
By establishing a monopoly on this market of words, Republicans have dealt a fatal blow to Democrats. Sure, Democrats can counter reproductive propaganda with such carefully crafted phrases as "pro-choice," but the Republicans churn out positive catch phrases with such speed and alacrity, liberals will never catch up. And, even if Democrats could muster some clever slogans, the solid ones have already been firmly embedded in the American psyche, and are just as firmly associated with George W. Bush and his affiliates. The Democrats dropped the ball on this one, possibly the most important issue of all, and they can never pick it up.
As it stands, Democrats attack the Right with a barrage of negativity. The Patriot Act does not help us - rather, it hurts our liberties and therefore our country. The No Child Left Behind Act does not live up to its promises. These statements are true, and Democrats are right in exposing the truth behind such beautifully packaged refuse. However, Democratic Party representatives come across as whiny, combative and - worst of all - reactive rather than proactive.
Living as we do in a high-anxiety environment, we need assurance that our leaders will protect us rather than nurse our wounds after the fact. We need to hear soothing, inspiring words - words that give us comfort and hope and put our worried minds at ease.
Too bad Republicans have all the right words.
- Karla Saia is an English senior and opinion editor for The Daily Aztec.
- This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send letters to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed - include your full name, major and year in school.
My reaction exactly. Either that or she hasn't done her homework and knows nothing about even recent history.
The left has long distorted the meaning of words and phrases. "Affirmative Action" leaps to mind -- the liberal euphemism for legally sanctioned discrimination against white males. "Pro-Choice" is another -- pro-abortion only, not choice in anything else.
Democratic Party representatives come across as whiny, combative and - worst of all - reactive rather than proactive.
DUHHH! That's because they are LOL.
Thus priving that the right has not yet won, but only caught on.
"shone light on a blade wielded so wisely and ferociously by the Right"
"Bush's brilliance in the linguistic arena"
"Never mind the program is severely overburdened and underfunded, rendering Bush's promises totally hypocritical and void of meaning."
"Therein lies the majesty of what the Right has done. Everyone agrees with them"
"...disclose our confidential personal information to innumerable intelligence agencies..."
"exposing the truth behind such beautifully packaged refuse"
Etc, etc...
Liberals, learn to modulate a little! You don't have to peg the needle the whole time.
Absolutely correct. The left has done more to control the language of politics.
Liberals = Progressives.
Illegal alien = undocumented worker.
Raising you taxes = increasing your contribution.
Hey, this writing is as good as any by Tom Shales. In fact, it's looking like almost anyone who can pen a leftist screed can write as well as Shales.
Ummm, Erica honey, it's the Democrat Party. These people are the Democrats, not the Democratics, you know. I thought you made yourself out to be some sort of expert on word usage, so I'm surprised at your obvious ignorance on this point.
:p
What she fails to understand is that these issues are not just euphemisms. There most certainly ARE people who sincerely desire unpatriotic results, and most of them are Dims. They, of course, don't want to be accurately labeled...it gets in the way of their activities and offends their senses.
And there most certainly ARE people who are clambering for nothing less than making a mockery of the institution of marriage, and some are doing so as part of their platforms as nominees to be the Dimocrat presidential candidate...but again, they would much rather it not be couched in accurate terms because that decreases their successes.
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