theshire
03-08-2007, 11:41 AM
I love words. I'm fascinated by the choices of words that confront us all when we try and best convey how we feel about issues. But words have a habit of sometimes landing you in trouble when you hadn't QUITE planned it that way!
The political example that got me thinking about this is when Ann Coulter got herself into trouble a few days ago when in making a public sppeech she combined the words "John Edwards" and "faggot" in the one sentence. I think this was vulgar and un-necessary. I can think of many things to say about Edwards, but "faggot" is not one of them. It's crude, it's offensive and Ann should not have said it, in my view. It cheapens her, not him.
But I found this article (http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11107) by Lisa Fabrizio on words over on the always excellent American Spectator (like the UK Spectator, but with cajones!) rather interesting. For example, do you know that some regard the use of the noun "homosexual" offensive? Do you remember Bubba Bill Clinton twisting - to MSM delight and empathy - as to what was meant by the term "sexual relations" and what is the meaning of the word "is"?
I think that those of us on the political right should use our words carefully. I know I often fail to say things as I mean them, but I try my best to select the right language. Ann Coulter, as the author of this excellent article suggests, would do well to reflect on the civility and good manners of those such as Ronald Reagan and William F.Buckley. Words do carry power, and those of us who use them publicly need to be careful - if you like be conservative :jester: - in how we employ them.
The political example that got me thinking about this is when Ann Coulter got herself into trouble a few days ago when in making a public sppeech she combined the words "John Edwards" and "faggot" in the one sentence. I think this was vulgar and un-necessary. I can think of many things to say about Edwards, but "faggot" is not one of them. It's crude, it's offensive and Ann should not have said it, in my view. It cheapens her, not him.
But I found this article (http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11107) by Lisa Fabrizio on words over on the always excellent American Spectator (like the UK Spectator, but with cajones!) rather interesting. For example, do you know that some regard the use of the noun "homosexual" offensive? Do you remember Bubba Bill Clinton twisting - to MSM delight and empathy - as to what was meant by the term "sexual relations" and what is the meaning of the word "is"?
I think that those of us on the political right should use our words carefully. I know I often fail to say things as I mean them, but I try my best to select the right language. Ann Coulter, as the author of this excellent article suggests, would do well to reflect on the civility and good manners of those such as Ronald Reagan and William F.Buckley. Words do carry power, and those of us who use them publicly need to be careful - if you like be conservative :jester: - in how we employ them.