Control the Words, Control the World
There’s no mistake that one of the greatest tools the left possesses is it’s ability to control the words in all realms of today’s modern life. From the media, to the government to pop culture, our world is defined by those in control of the words. Don’t believe me? Just pay attention to someone who may be for the most part, politically disengaged, and how their worldview is shaped by what they get from the media and the politicians. A conversation I had with a young Twitterer reminded me of this, when she reflected on how the National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was an orgy of hate towards gay people, and how Chick-Fil-A’s owner’s stance on gay marriage was an obvious indication that the whole company must be filled with hateful, homophobic bigots.
In short, words matter.
An interesting example of the power of words and the power of those who control them, came up recently, in a Seattle Times article titled “State moves toward gender-neutral language” . Here in Washington State, a project has been underway since 2006 to clear all Washington state laws, official histories, documents etc of “gender-specific” language. From that article :
Over the past six years, state officials have engaged in the onerous task of changing the language used in the state’s copious laws, including thousands of words and phrases, many written more than a century ago when the idea of women working on police forces or on fishing boats wasn’t a consideration.
That process is to draw to a close this year. So while the state already has welcomed “firefighters,” “clergy” and “police officers” into its lexicon, “ombuds” (in place of ombudsman) and “security guards” (previously “watchmen,”) appear to be next, along with “dairy farmers,” “first-year students” and “handwriting.”
“Some people would say ‘oh, it’s not a big thing, do you really have to go through the process of changing the language,’” said Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark, who was one of the catalysts for the change. “But language matters. It’s how we signal a level of respect for each other.”
How revising history with a politically correct movement of today means we increase our respect for each other is beyond me, but, oh well. It should also be noted that Clark is a lesbian, and about as far left as one can get on the political spectrum. This walk towards neutrality equaling equality is a favorite of the gay and transgendered movements, along with the feminist movement. A perfect trifecta of leftist inanity!
For me, I think this is a silly exercise and probably a gigantic waste of time and money. (Funny how the article fails to note what the price tag for this massive, seven-year project was), but if you want to make sure gender-neutral language is used going forwards in legalese etc, fine. It’s the part where they’re going back and editing history that creeps me out a bit. Because, you see, wherever the Left takes hold, somehow, someway, history is changed by them. (Even as they always run around griping about how history is written by the victors). From the outright erasure of Pol Pot to “un-personing” that Lenin and his ilk did to others, the Left likes to make history change in their favor, or disappear altogether.
And history is shaped by words.
Funnily enough, the Times article has a University of Washington professor quoted in the story, making the same case:
Crispin Thurlow, a sociolinguist and associate professor of language and communication at the University of Washington, Bothell, said the project was admirable.
He said as language evolves, such efforts are more than symbolic.
“Changing words can change what we think about the world around us,” he said. “These tiny moments accrue and become big movements.
Or, more simply, as the title of this post says : Control the words, control the world.
