Posted by
peripheral on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6:02:41 AM
From My Perspective - - -
There seems to be an unwritten code for most politicians, that in order
to succeed with proposed legislation, one must be adept with Language
Manipulation and the clever use of nuance, idioms and semantics.
Semantics is: “The study or science of meaning in language. The meaning
or the interpretation of a word, sentence, or other language form…” It
reminds one of the old saying: “A Rose by any other name is still a
Rose.” It also suggests remembering the words attributed to Abraham
Lincoln: “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you
can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” The Basic Premise is
that ambiguity confuses the true definition and detail. This is a tool
used when discussing “Funding” for a proposed Legislation. The current
discussion of Health Care Reform is using this tool when the statement
is released that there will be a savings of $81 Billion without
indicating there is still a Basic Cost of more than $850 Billion, and
the reduction of Medicare Funding, and the Increase of Taxes (shall we
call them enhancement fees, or a way to arrive at universal
inclusion?). The Congressional Logo should be a Spider Web to symbolize
the words of Sir Walter Scott: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when
first we practice to deceive.” Language is intended to Clarify – not
Confuse! Language is intended to Help – not Hinder! Language is
intended to be Definitive – not Deceptive!
An illustration of Language Manipulation is given in a Headline on
Breitbart in an Associated Press Release on October 26th with this
Headline: Pelosi: Health Care 'Public Option' Needs New Name.
The AP News Item states: “A government-sponsored public option for
health care lives, though it may be more attractive to skeptics if it
goes by a different name, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday. In an
appearance at a Florida senior center, the Democratic leader referred
to the so-called public option as The Consumer Option. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, appeared by Pelosi's side and used the term Competitive Option. Both suggested new terminology might get them past any lingering doubts among the public—or consumers or competitors.”
Another illustration is when The War On Terror
underwent Semantic Revision. A News Item in the Washington Post on
March 24th, 2009 stated: “The U.S. is no longer engaged in a war on
terrorism. Neither is it fighting Jihadists or in a global war.
President Obama's top homeland security and counterterrorism official
took all three terms off the table of acceptable words inside the White
House during a speech Thursday at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, a Washington think tank. The President does not
describe this as a war on terrorism, said John Brennan, head of the
White House homeland security office, who outlined a new way of seeing
the fight against terrorism. The only terminology that Mr. Brennan said
the administration is using is that the U.S. is at war with al Qaeda.
We are at war with its violent extremist allies who seek to carry on al
Qaeda's murderous agenda. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that
the administration was not using the term war on terror…” What is the
new term for the activity of the U.S. Military in Iraq and Afghanistan?
It is NOT “War On Terror” but “Overseas Contingency Operation".
All of this is a far cry from the words of Jesus Christ in the Sermon On The Mount (Matthew 5:37):
“Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond
this comes from the evil one.” In the New Living Translation, it is
stated: “Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word
is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something
is wrong.” And, in The Message: “Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you
manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.” Jesus confronted
the Pharisees (Matthew 12:36-37) with these words: “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless (idle) word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned.” Jesus condemns Language Manipulation! He wants us to be
exact and precise in the words we use – say what we mean and mean what
we say! Consider these things with me!