Some words are stomped while...

[coberst]

Some words are stomped while others are placed on a pedestal

 

The word ‘liberal’ has been pretty well trashed out of common usage in American lexicon. One might conclude that Ronald Reagan is the cause. I, however, do not think so. No one can accurately accuse Ronald of being an intellectual who had decided that the word was unfit for American ears.

 

Why are some words trashed and others placed on a pedestal? In fact, ‘liberal’ was once a hallowed word placed, by Americans, on a pedestal. I suspect this happens because it serves the interest of a powerful ideology within the country.

 

With that thought one might very well point out that it was to the advantage of the Republican Party to trash the word. Yes, obviously, it served the interest of the Republican Party for this marvelous word to be disposed of.

 

If, however, one takes a drive through the Southland of America one will quickly discover that Reagan was an opportunist rather than an intellectual, thank God. If you drive through the Southland you will find that if you turn your car radio on you cannot help but hear from a great number of preachers. Every one of those preachers considers that there is only one thing lower than a liberal and that is the devil himself.

 

The Republican Party wisely decided that the religious preachers had set up a marvelous opportunity for wounding the Democrat Party.

 

I see hints that the Republican Party has decided to do the reverse with the word ‘freedom’. Listen to Bush and you will hear the effort begin. The word ‘freedom’ is to become a word for the pedestal. It is to become the revered word that can be used to package the Iraq war in sentimentality.

 

Manipulating motion through the distortion of words is a major means whereby ideology controls the behavior of Dick and Jane.

[moo]

Interesting points, but the connotation of words often change over time, and sometimes rather quickly.

 

For instance, the 1890s were often referred to as the "gay nineties", because "gay" at that time meant nothing more than happy/cheerful etc. And look at all the "hip" talk of the 60s and even teen talk now (lol, bad is actually good - go figure).

 

Sadly though, it's not uncommon for politicians to imply negativity for any number of words/phrases/ideals used by their opponents. And I'm not sure if any particular party is that much more skilled at it than the others. :)

 

moo

[coberst]

Moo

 

Unfortunately, it seems that liberals are more likely to be stompees rather than stompers.

[moo]

Possibly, but then so are pacifists... :)

 

moo

[CraigD]

Why are some words trashed and others placed on a pedestal?

IMHO, both the answer to this question, and which words are trashed or lauded depends strongly on who is using them

The word ‘liberal’ has been pretty well trashed out of common usage in American lexicon.

Though this may be true in some communities, it’s not in mine, which if anything, has trashed the word “conservative” out of the lexicon of polite conversation.

 

I think musician Todd Snider puts provides a delightful counterpoint to the sort of liberal-bashing one sees and hears in many TV and radio shows, in the lyrics of his song “Conservative Christian Right-Wing Republican Straight White American Males” – though the word “liberal” appears nowhere in it, replaced by the more lyrical phrase “lazy *** hippies”

Conservative christian, right wing republican, straight white, american male.

Gay bashing, black fearing, poor fighting, tree killing, regional leaders of sales.

Frat housing and keg tapping and shirt tucking back slapping, haters of hippies like me.

Tree hugging, peace loving, pot smoking, porn watching, lazy *** hippies like me.

 

Tree hugging, love making, pro choicing, gay wedding, wide spread digging hippies like me.

skin color blinded, conspiracy minded, protesters of corporate greed

We who have nothing and most likely will, till we all end up locked up in jails

by Conservative christian, right wing republican, straight white american males.

 

Diamonds and dogs, boys and girls. living together in 2 seperate worlds

following leaders up mountians of shame, looking for someone to blame.

I know who I like to blame…

 

Conservative christian, right wing republican, straight white. american males

soul saving, flag waving, Rush loving, land paving, personal friends to the Quales

quite diligently, working so hard to keep, the free reigns of this democracy

from tree hugging, peace loving, pot smoking, bare footing, folk singing hippies like me.

tree hugging, peace loving, pot smoking, porn watching, lazy *** hippies like me.