Ossian
December 3rd, 2003, 10:26 PM
Certain terms and phrases have been stretched and distorted beyond recognition by our ''friends'' in the mass media. Here is a glossary of some of these terms, with both old and new definitions included to avoid confusion.
Troubled Youth. This phrase used to mean exactly that: a youth beset by inner doubts about his personal adequacy or worried by sundry other problems.
Today, it simply refers to any young sociopath with at least four arrests to his credit.
Peer Pressure. In the past, this force might compel a teenager to prove his courage by diving thirty feet into the local swimming hole or by getting drunk with his friends.
Today, the media consider it justification for armed robbery, rape and crack addiction.
Role Model. This used to refer to the man you wanted to be when you grew up: professionally successful, modest, athletic, cultured, likeable and responsible.
Today, the phrase connotes any adult male in the innercity who manages to hold down a job and is not yet addicted to a prohibited substance.
Equality. The framers of the Constitution stated that all men are created equal in the eyes of the law, with an equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Today, the wishful thinkers in the media have interpreted the Constitution to mean that we are all created equal according to the laws of biology--and any deviation from equal achievement means injustice has been done.
Racist. This used to be a person who discriminated against someone because of his race.
Today, a ''racist'' is anyone who has committed the thoughtcrime of noticing that there are differences between the races.
Homeless. This word used to describe people who were temporarily without shelter because their homes had been devastated by a natural disaster, such as a tornado or flood.
Today, it refers to that group of people who used to be called bums, derelicts, winos and crazies. Now that their ranks have been swelled by welfare mothers with ten babies, now that their color has taken on a predominantly dark hue, the media need a more sanitized term. Thus, the “homeless.”
Illiteracy. This phenomenon used to be caused by lack of schooling--something an Abe Lincoln might have overcome by candlelight.
Today, illiteracy is something that troubles black athletes with four years of college.
Police Brutality. It used to mean exactly that.
Today, any policeman who uses lethal (or nonlethal) force to defend himself must, in turn, defend himself from the inevitable cries of “police brutality” from the black community.
Civil Rights. This used to mean the right to vote, to sit in the front of the bus and to attend integrated schools.
Today, it means the right of black people to be admitted to Harvard Law School and be hired ahead of more qualified white people.
Right-Wing. In the old days, someone labeled as a right-winger was supposed to hold political beliefs with which only the extreme 10% (or fewer) of people at his end of the political spectrum concurred.
Strangely enough, Ronald Reagan, who was elected to two terms as President by the most overwhelming majorities in recent election history, was, until the eve of his first victory at least, referred to by the media as “right-wing.”
Prejudice. The 1969 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary defines this as “an adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.”
Today, “prejudice” means an adverse judgment or opinion formed -afterwards- and -with- knowledge and examination of the facts.
Pseudo-Scientific. This term used to be applied to alchemists, water diviners, phrenologists and other quacks.
Today, it is applied to any scientist whose legitimate experimental results do not buttress the argument that all DNA is created equal.
Charismatic. In the past, those people whose magnetism and powers of persuasion made them great leaders were referred to this way; for instance, Charlemagne or Joan of Arc.
Today, any black who can speak English slightly better than his peers is accorded this adjective. Thus, "Reverends" Al and Jesse are often referred to as “charismatic.”
Oppressed. In the past, this term conjured up an image of dirt-poor peasants whose marginal struggle for survival was harshened by periodic demands for tribute from a despotic tyrant.
Today, it refers to that sector of society whose indolent, welfare-supported existence does not quite match the lifestyle of those who work for a living.
Downtrodden. In the past, this adjective might describe a people enslaved by invading conquerors, for instance, those whom Genghis Khan’s marauding hordes overran in the 13th century.
Currently, this adjective is used to describe a people who tread and stomp on themselves through illegitimate birth, drug addiction, crime and laziness.
Racial Tensions. This phrase used to describe the hostilities in any area where mutual ethnic antagonism gradually escalated to the point where vendettas or even war might result.
Now this term refers to the state of affairs in any area where black people commit a lot of crimes (i.e., any area with a lot of black people) and white people are fed up with it.
Exploited. Formerly, this would bring to mind a Dickensian world of ten-year-old children working 16-hour days in hazardous sweatshops.
Today, the media use this word to denote people who get the minimum wage (or more) in jobs any Third Worlder with a bit of ambition would give his eyeteeth to obtain.
Proud People. Proud people used to be those who refused to beg or accept charity of any kind, as well as those who insisted on pulling their own weight in their community. (Alternatively, they might be proud of their accomplishments.)
Now, a people need no tangible reason to be proud, but are proud simply because they exist, e.g., “I’m black and I’m proud.” (Similarly, respect is no longer something that must be earned, but is to be accorded merely because of one’s existence.)
Racism. Formerly, this was discrimination based on race. Now it is an amorphous, malevolent force lurking in the background which is the cause of every black failing. Teenage pregnancy? Crack addiction? Poor reading scores? ''Racism'' is to blame!
Senseless Violence. In olden days, this was violence committed for no apparent reason.
Today, the term refers to violence committed for a purpose which the media wish to obscure.
And on it goes....
Certain other terms have also fallen into disfavor. You rarely hear the expression “work ethic” any more. (It doesn’t fit into the worldview espoused by the media.)
Who has heard the expression “pull oneself up by one’s own bootstraps” recently?
The terms “inferior” and “superior” appear only in reference to things, not human beings.
“Primitive” now mostly refers only to a time period or artwork, not a people.
Troubled Youth. This phrase used to mean exactly that: a youth beset by inner doubts about his personal adequacy or worried by sundry other problems.
Today, it simply refers to any young sociopath with at least four arrests to his credit.
Peer Pressure. In the past, this force might compel a teenager to prove his courage by diving thirty feet into the local swimming hole or by getting drunk with his friends.
Today, the media consider it justification for armed robbery, rape and crack addiction.
Role Model. This used to refer to the man you wanted to be when you grew up: professionally successful, modest, athletic, cultured, likeable and responsible.
Today, the phrase connotes any adult male in the innercity who manages to hold down a job and is not yet addicted to a prohibited substance.
Equality. The framers of the Constitution stated that all men are created equal in the eyes of the law, with an equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Today, the wishful thinkers in the media have interpreted the Constitution to mean that we are all created equal according to the laws of biology--and any deviation from equal achievement means injustice has been done.
Racist. This used to be a person who discriminated against someone because of his race.
Today, a ''racist'' is anyone who has committed the thoughtcrime of noticing that there are differences between the races.
Homeless. This word used to describe people who were temporarily without shelter because their homes had been devastated by a natural disaster, such as a tornado or flood.
Today, it refers to that group of people who used to be called bums, derelicts, winos and crazies. Now that their ranks have been swelled by welfare mothers with ten babies, now that their color has taken on a predominantly dark hue, the media need a more sanitized term. Thus, the “homeless.”
Illiteracy. This phenomenon used to be caused by lack of schooling--something an Abe Lincoln might have overcome by candlelight.
Today, illiteracy is something that troubles black athletes with four years of college.
Police Brutality. It used to mean exactly that.
Today, any policeman who uses lethal (or nonlethal) force to defend himself must, in turn, defend himself from the inevitable cries of “police brutality” from the black community.
Civil Rights. This used to mean the right to vote, to sit in the front of the bus and to attend integrated schools.
Today, it means the right of black people to be admitted to Harvard Law School and be hired ahead of more qualified white people.
Right-Wing. In the old days, someone labeled as a right-winger was supposed to hold political beliefs with which only the extreme 10% (or fewer) of people at his end of the political spectrum concurred.
Strangely enough, Ronald Reagan, who was elected to two terms as President by the most overwhelming majorities in recent election history, was, until the eve of his first victory at least, referred to by the media as “right-wing.”
Prejudice. The 1969 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary defines this as “an adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.”
Today, “prejudice” means an adverse judgment or opinion formed -afterwards- and -with- knowledge and examination of the facts.
Pseudo-Scientific. This term used to be applied to alchemists, water diviners, phrenologists and other quacks.
Today, it is applied to any scientist whose legitimate experimental results do not buttress the argument that all DNA is created equal.
Charismatic. In the past, those people whose magnetism and powers of persuasion made them great leaders were referred to this way; for instance, Charlemagne or Joan of Arc.
Today, any black who can speak English slightly better than his peers is accorded this adjective. Thus, "Reverends" Al and Jesse are often referred to as “charismatic.”
Oppressed. In the past, this term conjured up an image of dirt-poor peasants whose marginal struggle for survival was harshened by periodic demands for tribute from a despotic tyrant.
Today, it refers to that sector of society whose indolent, welfare-supported existence does not quite match the lifestyle of those who work for a living.
Downtrodden. In the past, this adjective might describe a people enslaved by invading conquerors, for instance, those whom Genghis Khan’s marauding hordes overran in the 13th century.
Currently, this adjective is used to describe a people who tread and stomp on themselves through illegitimate birth, drug addiction, crime and laziness.
Racial Tensions. This phrase used to describe the hostilities in any area where mutual ethnic antagonism gradually escalated to the point where vendettas or even war might result.
Now this term refers to the state of affairs in any area where black people commit a lot of crimes (i.e., any area with a lot of black people) and white people are fed up with it.
Exploited. Formerly, this would bring to mind a Dickensian world of ten-year-old children working 16-hour days in hazardous sweatshops.
Today, the media use this word to denote people who get the minimum wage (or more) in jobs any Third Worlder with a bit of ambition would give his eyeteeth to obtain.
Proud People. Proud people used to be those who refused to beg or accept charity of any kind, as well as those who insisted on pulling their own weight in their community. (Alternatively, they might be proud of their accomplishments.)
Now, a people need no tangible reason to be proud, but are proud simply because they exist, e.g., “I’m black and I’m proud.” (Similarly, respect is no longer something that must be earned, but is to be accorded merely because of one’s existence.)
Racism. Formerly, this was discrimination based on race. Now it is an amorphous, malevolent force lurking in the background which is the cause of every black failing. Teenage pregnancy? Crack addiction? Poor reading scores? ''Racism'' is to blame!
Senseless Violence. In olden days, this was violence committed for no apparent reason.
Today, the term refers to violence committed for a purpose which the media wish to obscure.
And on it goes....
Certain other terms have also fallen into disfavor. You rarely hear the expression “work ethic” any more. (It doesn’t fit into the worldview espoused by the media.)
Who has heard the expression “pull oneself up by one’s own bootstraps” recently?
The terms “inferior” and “superior” appear only in reference to things, not human beings.
“Primitive” now mostly refers only to a time period or artwork, not a people.