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.
Has this chick not read 1984? That's one of its major themes.
Uh, yeah, they do. And the Left claims that they're "pro-choice." Just what "choice" is it that they favor? The choice to murder helpless people who are an animate consequence of an absent morality? You don't call THAT playing fast and loose with the parlance?
Oh yeah; that's why you socialist/Marxist types are so anxious to kill them in the name of "reproductive choice." Here's a clue, lady...women make their "reproductive choice" when they lay down!"
We all strive to embody patriotism, especially post-Sept. 11."
Sure you do...that's why you people do everything in your power to undermine the sovereignity of this country and give aide and comfort to our enemies every opportunity you get. Here's another clue for you: patriots support the president in time of war.
"No one, in her heart of hearts, wants to see a mockery made of marriage."
Oh really? Is that why you people support perverts sashaying around in make believe marriages getting in the face of people trying to raise decent kids with solid values?
Your entire case is intellectually dishonest. You have some nerve casting aspersions on this adminstration after bowing down at the altar of the liar-in-chief of the 90's. How are those knee pads holding up, by the way?
The hypocrisy of the left never ceases to astound me.
Not bad for an "idiot," huh?
Tolerance
Diversity
Racial Profiling
I nominate that as quote of the day!
No, just more dishonest.
That's because they have no ideas that have merit.
Ha!
Even as I read this silly screed I figured that the author must be a high schooler.
It's too easy.
She has currently, been confused by her Leftist educators to know anything different.
She still sees the World through the eyes of some tenured Marxist. Sooner or later, she will cut her teeth on some article that leads her to the truth.
If, at that point, she still rejects the facts and choses to follow her misguided ideology, she becomes a true liberal. Until then, I will forgive her naivety.
That one gets me too! And it so clearly points out the thoughts of their deepest heart, which is to say, the government is entitled to all our money, and any we keep is only through their generosity.
Let's see, government owns everything...what name might that go by?...that would be COMMUNISM.
Liberals are at a loss to explain the success of the Right, so they've manufactured a nice fantasy for themselves. We've "captured" the language!
These are the same people who've created euphemisms for everything from taxation to abortion, who've deconstructed everything from Shakespeare to Plato. And they have the nerve to insist that we've "captured" or are manipulating language for political ends?
Freudian projection at its best, my friends.
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