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rant

When Words Have No Meaning

by: Jennifer Daler

Tue Apr 20, 2010 at 06:59:48 AM EDT

 Because of the right wing conflation of communism and fascism (which aren't the same thing), it is increasingly difficult to call out behavior similar to that of folks wearing brown shirts in 1920s Germany. If everybody's Hitler, then nobody's Hitler. His name and image mean nothing in the US any longer, except maybe to the ever dwindling population who lived at the time of his rule.

We have a national figure, who some think should be president, claiming this nation was founded to be a "Christian nation" despite the fact that Jefferson and Adams, who didn't agree on much, both agreed that separation of church and state was vital to the fledgling democracy we now know as the United States of America. And this national figure, unaware and unashamed of her ignorance of elementary school history, is given prime space on news programs.

We have people at protests holding signs that say :"Get the government out of my Medicare". How on earth did they even sign up for it? Where do they think it comes from?

We have a state representative who accused a school district of showing children pornography in the classroom, which was an out and out lie. But because lying is not a crime per se, she still walks the halls of the State House and Legislative Office Building, supposedly representing her constituents. She still speaks and people still have to listen to her.

We have a person running for governor, a man, comparing paying taxes to being raped.

False phrases such as "death panels" are made up by folks paid handsomely to do so and spread by others. And people believe them.

I love language. I'm an avid reader and writer. I love language so much that I bothered to learn another one. It saddens me to see how words are cheapened to the point of losing meaning.

Although I read it ages ago, the whole point of Orwell's 1984 seems to rest on the misuse of language and how that misuse led to the end of human freedom. But one can't even go there anymore, because when everything kills freedom, nothing does.

Discuss :: (6 Comments)

Pearls or Diamonds (a rant)

by: smucci

Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:38:38 AM EST

It is both incredible and awful the things we put our Presidential candidates through. I am not, by any measure, a Hillary Clinton supporter but I think that last question was unfair and personifies the greater problem that exists with today's media environment.

The question was both sexist and trivial.  To her credit she got the maximum mileage with her answer by implying that criticism of her decisiveness is unwarranted.  Good job with a bad question.

If she had said are you kidding me, we are here to display our qualifications for the position of leader of the free world.  There are people on this stage who deserve an extra minute or two to make their case and you are "playing the gender card" and insulting us all with such foolishness.  She would have been accused of being humorless and rigid and who knows what else.  Thank goodness she didn't choose one - can you imagine the fallout and chatter - no thanks.

There's More... :: (20 Comments, 343 words in story)

Graduation Day

by: elwood

Sat Jun 23, 2007 at 15:55:18 PM EDT

The front pages of our local papers for the past two weeks have featured high school graduations -- kids new grown-ups in caps and gowns, and  valedictory speeches, and guest speakers. Many of our political leaders have been the speakers at these graduation ceremonies.

The front pages have also told another story over those two weeks. Fourteen American soldiers killed in Iraq Thursday. Eight Friday. Each of these dead soldiers must be replaced, to continue "our mission."

The replacements will come from these happy and proud new graduates.

END THIS OCCUPATION!

Discuss :: (3 Comments)

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