"Speak Truth to Power" (the left's new mantra)

Mountain Journal News ^ | 20040731 | c. l. steplock

[steplock]

"Speak Truth to Power"

Articles /
Date: Jul 31, 2004 - 09:48 AM

We will "Speak Truth to Power"
My Thoughts - Carl Steplock

Just as it happened during the last election cycle in 2000 with the emergence of the arcane word "gravitas", the left has discovered another code-word/phrase to portray their self-perceived "mental superiority" over the unwashed masses.

I thought I was simply "mis-hearing" Mrs Kerry when she kept referring to "Speaking Truth to Power" but I began to hear this same phrase repeated,as if by lemmings on their way to the cliffs, over and over by the pundits of the left wing - especially those from the far left fringe members of the DNC.

I must confess to ignorance since I didn't have the slightest idea what they were talking about (of course, that is the desired effect) so I began my search for enlightment. Here are my initial "enlightments" :

This seems to be the most common IMAGE illustrating the phrase "Speak Truth to Power"


I found an OFFICIAL web site of these "enlightened ones" at Very weird people here.

It appears to be used now in some psycho-sexual-pseudo-science religion.

But, that is only my impression of these people.

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[steplock]

A short dictionary is usually required when listening to political pundits.

Most definitions courtesey of www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

ARCANE: requiring secret or mysterious knowledge; "the arcane science of dowsing"

GRAVITAS: formality in bearing and appearance; "he behaved with great dignity"

LEMMINGS: any of various short-tailed furry-footed rodents of circumpolar distribution that follow each other blindly in suicide plunges to their deaths; leftist democrat socialists

MIS-HEARING: hearing clearly the spoken words but the brain not accepting the interpretation.
Causes: Usually the effects of wax in the ears; being in a state of shock of hearing too many lies.

[tet68]

If "Power" lies so much, why do they want it?
If "power" lies so much, what did that say about when THEY had it?

[JennysCool]

"Speak Truth to Power" isn't new. It goes back a long, long time.

[BlazingArizona]

"Speak Truth to Power" isn't new. It goes back a long, long time.

Does anyone know how far the phrase does go back? I first started hearing it from Anita Hill, at the time she accused Clarence Thomas of molestation. Suddenly, it became the left's darling catchphrase.

[tet68]

I am always amazed when I remember a conversation I had during the hippy era. A friend was musing about His (our)
generation taking over the reins of government.

"Someday WE will be the government.
Someday We will change things.
We will be in charge.
And when someone revolts......
Boy, will WE STEP on them!"

Some how that conversation has stayed with me all these years, I remembered it when Clinton was inaugurated and
that guy said,"Those are OUR planes now", I remembered it
when "Stoke of the Pen, Law of the land", was uttered,
I remembered it at Waco and with Elian down in Florida,
and I can't help but think that with Kerry in office, the
foot will come down.

They WILL NOT WILLINGLY GIVE UP THE POWER AGAIN.

[JennysCool]

I think it may well go back to the '70s.

[BonnieJ]

So..you speak truth to have power, or you speak truth to those in power...It is a bit abstract for a campaign slogan!

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Billionaire Tah-Ray-Zah Heinz Kerry has a lot of power with her money.

When someone tried to "speak truth to her power," she told him to "shove it."

[daviddennis]

What does the phrase mean to those who say it?

It seems a bit ... odd.

What is power supposed to do in response?

D

[Maceman]

I love it. When Democrats critizize Bush (mostly through lies), they're being patriotic.

When conservatives complained about Clinton's many documented lies and policy outrages, they were part of a "vast right wing conspiracy."

[Mamzelle]

One interesting thing about campaigns is the use of rhetoric--and how even familiar words become election neologisms.

"Speak Truth to Power" is a self-congratulatory one, implying one's Great Courage. I always think of Madonna insulting the Catholic Church, calling the insult courage, yet forever failing to defy Islam. It's cause the Islamics are known to kill people like Madonna, whereas the Catholics just act offended. That's what "Speaking Truth to Power" means...

Another little catchword I've picked up on is the habit of calling Bush a "prodigal"--this I've heard and read a few times. Can't quite wrap my mind around what they're trying to get at. Fatted calf, what?

[steplock]

I know this isn't "new" - It simply points out the left-wing radical penchant for using arcane (or archaic) phrases and words that are designed to makes themselves appear to be "more intelligent" or "higher level".

Many of these oft-repeated or parroted terms and phrases are mostly of of the old socialist, communist, or "feel-good psycho-babble" writings.

"One of the ancient traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Yurodivy, the holy fool who naively yet fearlessly speaks truth to power."

[Libertarianize the GOP]

don't we have a freeper with that name?

[Max Combined]

""Speak Truth to Power" isn't new. It goes back a long, long time."

Yes, I have heard lefties saying that for a long time. It means shooting your mouth off, when you have no intention of doing anything about a problem, other than bitching about it.

Sort of like the mouse who suggested putting a bell on the cat was speaking truth to power.

[Freebird Forever]

It goes back a long, long time.

Hans Christian Andersen popularised the concept in his story The Emperor’s New Suit, circa 1837.

[Publius6961]

GRAVITAS: formality in bearing and appearance; "he behaved with great dignity"

I prefer mine: GRAVITAS: Ponderous, slow and lacking grace; the hippo performed her ballet routine with "GRAVITAS"

[Publius6961]

What does the phrase mean to those who say it?

Power, of course. As in all psychobabble, the more obscure the phrase, the more power over the "puzzled".

You've got to "be there". It's a delusional thing.

[ikka]

Having a bunch of outraged hippie women demonstrating in complete safety outside, say, a courthouse or a foreign embassy, is "speaking truth to power".

Actually shipping troops to a foreign country, deposing the tyrant who puts people into wood chippers, and restoring their country is NOT "speaking truth to power". Get it?