Orwell knew the danger of playing with words

Posted on Sun, May. 07, 2006

Orwell knew the danger of playing with words
By BROOKE ALLEN

It has long been recognized that political language forms a linguistic category of its own, one in which words serve not as exact descriptive symbols but as empty formulae designed to push specific emotional buttons in the guileless listener.

The best description of this process is still George Orwell's essay ''Politics and the English Language,'' written 60 years ago, in which he argued that any number of words used with easy profligacy by politicians had become essentially meaningless.

''The words democracy, socialism, freedom, patriotic, realistic, justice,'' he wrote, ``have each of them several different meanings which cannot be reconciled with one another.''

The word fascism, he said, had no meaning 'except insofar as it signifies `something not desirable.' '' Other words Orwell said were generally used dishonestly included ``class, totalitarian, science, progressive, reactionary, bourgeois, equality.''
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/14511405.htm

Imagine what he would think of the "conservatives"' $8 trillion deficit, or the "liberals"' vote to give their war powers away to George Bush! Or the torturers' and mass murderers' "Axis of Evil." Or "elections" that are controlled by rightwing corporations with 'trade secret,' proprietary programm code. Or corporate personhood. Or 'christians' salivating over war and torture and the death penalty. Or "freedom" in Iraq.

Although I think I disagree with him about 'fascism' having lost its meaning. We're looking at it.

Populism, which can be used to fuel either good or bad movements is now being presented as the diametric opposite of democracy, which in turn is used as a synonym for capitalism. I've noticed a growth industry in this kind of language in regard to Latin America recently.

to make murder sound respectable, lies truthful, and give the appearance of solidity to pure wind." Classic

And that was before 'collateral damage' 'Stress positioning' and 'War on Terror'

Another Orwell dry classic is the beginning of the lion and the unicorn.

Living in London 1941 he wrote quite casually "As i write highly civilised human beings are flying overhead trying to kill me"

to most folks in the world.