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How conservatives use ‘verbal jiu-jitsu’ to turn liberals’ language against them
CNN ^ | August 20, 2023 | John Blake

Posted on 08/20/2023 3:17:33 PM PDT by TBP

Republicans are masters of verbal jiu-jitsu. It’s a form of linguistic combat in which the practitioner takes a political phrase or concept popularized by their opponent and gradually turns into an unusable slur. Like the Japanese martial art known as jiu-jitsu, its devotees avoid taking opposing arguments head on and instead redirect their opponents’ momentum to beat them.

If this sounds abstract, consider the evolution of “ woke.” The word is defined as being “actively aware of social injustice.” But it has been transformed into a contemporary scourge, one that a politician compared to a “virus more dangerous than any pandemic, hands down.”

Mention almost any touchstone phrase adopted by the left in recent years — “critical race theory,” “diversity,” “global warming,” even the word “liberal” itself — and it has been redefined or tarnished by conservatives.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chat; conservatives; liberallanguage
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To: TBP
Mention almost any touchstone phrase adopted by the left in recent years — “critical race theory,” “diversity,” “global warming,” even the word “liberal” itself — and it has been redefined or tarnished by conservatives.

Tarnished by the progressives themselves.

Speaking of "verbal jiu-jitsu" look at how "family values" became a pejorative, derrogatory term, or how only conservatives can be "culture warriors" or how the story is never the bad things Democrats do or the wrong things them say, but "Republicans pounce/seize/weaponize." SDI became "Star Wars." Supply-side economics became "Trickle Down" and then "Trickle On." Rather than being an experimental method of finding the truth, " The Science" came to mean whatever bureaucrats told us to believe. Consider, too all the ju-jitsu involved when liberals want to avoid saying "illegal immigrants."

Moreover, it wasn't like liberals invented words like "diversity" and "inclusion" and "equity." They appropriated them and attached them to their policies, hoping that the good sound those words had would make people favorable to their policies. When people see what DEI or CRT really means, of course they have negative reactions. To expect otherwise is to demand people surrender their freedom of thought.

41 posted on 08/20/2023 3:56:53 PM PDT by x
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To: TBP
The left is 100 times better than the right at using language to shape, no distort the argument.

Ccommon cases of woke terminology:

Using the term "sexual orientation" instead of "sexual preference" is woke.

Using “gender” instead of “sex” is woke.

Using “Black” instead of “black” is woke”.

Using “Gender affirming surgery” instead of “genital mutilation surgery” is woke.

Using "Undocumented immigrant" instead of "Illegal immigrant" or "Illegal alien" is woke.

Saying that someone was "assigned" a sex (or worse gender) at birth is woke. A person's sex is recorded at birth, not assigned.

Using the term "equity" (equal outcome) instead of "equality" (equal opportunity) is woke.

Affirmative Action = quotas = discrimination = woke.

42 posted on 08/20/2023 3:59:25 PM PDT by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: TBP

I use their own stupid, inconsistent positions against them.

It’s best to do this with groups of them. It’s far more fun.


43 posted on 08/20/2023 4:01:41 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: libertylover
Using the term "sexual orientation" instead of "sexual preference" is woke.

Really? I actually feel the opposite. I don't personally have attraction to both men and women and have a preference. I have an orientation. Each to Their own though!
44 posted on 08/20/2023 4:04:30 PM PDT by Observator
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To: DoodleBob

It’s nice that they tell us we’re really getting to them.

What a bunch of dim bulbs, I swear.


45 posted on 08/20/2023 4:07:47 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: TBP

Proper definition of

“woke”.
verb-Simple past tense and past participle of wake. She woke from sleep to the sound of rain...

the other defs are just slang use that began in the 60’s, according to the wiki dictionary and Merriam Webster...


46 posted on 08/20/2023 4:11:51 PM PDT by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
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To: Bigg Red
"Or how about using “gender-affirming care” to refer to genital mutilation?"

Isn't that lovely?

I never dreamt it could come to this.

47 posted on 08/20/2023 4:12:21 PM PDT by MV=PY (The Magic Question: Who's paying for it?)
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To: TBP

LOL! Use their own words against them and it’s ju-jitsu!


48 posted on 08/20/2023 4:20:15 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man)
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To: TBP

But the left can co-opt any symbol (the rainbow) or word (yhink *gay* or *woke*) and redefine it as THEY please.


49 posted on 08/20/2023 4:21:55 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: TBP

.


50 posted on 08/20/2023 4:21:58 PM PDT by sauropod (I will stand for truth even if I stand alone.)
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To: TBP

And the definition of marriage, woman...?


51 posted on 08/20/2023 4:42:18 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: Steely Tom
I knew a guy in college who was given a nickname, eg Egghead.

He finally had enough of it. “Stop it, guys…my nickname from home is ‘Duke.’”

The reply was universal and time-honored: SHUT UP, EGGHEAD. It sticks to this day.

In contrast, when I got a nickname I detested, I embraced outwardly…started calling myself by that nickname, responded to it, and went all-in.

It was dropped after a semester.

You’d think leftists, being all smarter and wiser etc. than us Deplorables, would figure it out.


52 posted on 08/20/2023 4:43:48 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity’s waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: DoodleBob
You’d think leftists, being all smarter and wiser etc. than us Deplorables, would figure it out.

They can't figure it out.

Liberalism is a form of narcissism, of exhibitionism.

53 posted on 08/20/2023 4:51:21 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: TBP
"Republicans are masters of verbal jiu-jitsu. It’s a form of linguistic combat in which the practitioner takes a political phrase or concept popularized by their opponent and gradually turns into an unusable slur. Like the Japanese martial art known as jiu-jitsu, its devotees avoid taking opposing arguments head on and instead redirect their opponents’ momentum to beat them."

Sure is amazing that a bunch of drooling ignorant deplorables from flyover country are able to outwit our exquisitely educated betters.
54 posted on 08/20/2023 4:59:42 PM PDT by chrisser (I lost my vaccine card in a tragic boating accident.)
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To: TBP
Oh Boo Freakin’ Hoo. You should be happy we're only using jui-jitsu on your words……for now.
55 posted on 08/20/2023 5:05:31 PM PDT by liberalh8ter (Ephesians 6:10 - 18)
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To: TBP
Jew Jitsu?


56 posted on 08/20/2023 5:08:18 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople (The best slaves put their own chains on )
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To: rfp1234
Libtards are butt hurt that conservatives have read and understood Alinsky’s rules, and effectively used them to fight back.


57 posted on 08/20/2023 5:10:29 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Observator

Is that related to the “Hap-Kido” style that Tom Laughlin used playing the character ‘Billy Jack’ in that titular film and its sequels?


58 posted on 08/20/2023 5:21:18 PM PDT by desertsolitaire ( )
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To: MV=PY

I really miss my late parents, but I am glad they aren’t around to see this garbage.


59 posted on 08/20/2023 5:26:28 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Trump will be sworn in under a shower of confetti made from the tattered remains of the Rat Party.)
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To: desertsolitaire
... ‘Billy Jack’...

One Tin Soldier

60 posted on 08/20/2023 5:27:05 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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