We all went to school and had our vocabulary words, and we usually learned the meanings of those words as we learned to spell them. In the last few decades though, a number of words have taken on completely new meanings. Not to say that there isn’t an evolution of vocabulary in any given society, but most thoughts we have nowadays already can be defined using existing vocabulary. I’ve compiled a list of words that already have meaning in the English language, and should probably have their meanings remain in tact.
Democracy: Mob rules. The governmental style of socialist countries.
Representative Republic: The form of government of the USA. Individuals elect officials who represent them, and legislate, on the federal government level.
Racism: The personal belief that one race of people is genetically superior to another race.
Bigotry: A stereotypical dislike of another race.
Immigrant: A foreigner who comes to our country legally and goes through the proper channels to become assimilated into American culture, eventually leading to citizenship, just like all of our ancestors.
Illegal Alien: A foreigner who breaks the law coming into America, typically by crossing the border without filling out the proper paperwork to visit, work, or immigrate into the country.
Liberal: One who believes government is the answer to all problems and is willing to use other people’s money to accomplish their goals. Those goals are typically anti-constitutional in stature.
Neo-Con: A welfare loving republican.
Conservative: One who believes in the rule of law; a political constitutionalist.
Progressive: Liberal code word for more socialism and larger government.
(Note: I'll add words to this thread as I come across them!)
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3 comments:
Hmmm . . . So, these are just your personal definitions, right? Because I think the meanings you have attributed to many of these terms, in particular, "liberal" and "conservative," are not universally shared. Also, I understand a "policitcal constitutionalist" to be a person who believes that the power of government should be limited by laws which protect individual liberties. This is not a conservative or liberal notion; it is an American ideal. Maybe you should consider adding "bias" to your list.
You say that you've "compiled a list of words that already have meaning in the English language, and should probably have their meanings remain in tact." You follow this with a list of ten words. However, instead of providing the meanings those words already have in the English language, you (1) make up a number of "new meanings" which reflect your political bias (a preference or inclination that inhibits impartial judgment), e.g., your treatment of the word "liberal," or else (2) provide an arguably accurate meaning without explaining how the "mainstream media" has committed an "obvious abuse and misuse" of that term, e.g., your definition of the term "racism."
Since when is "neo-con" a term you learned when you "went to school and had [your] vocabulary words"?
My definition of a constitutionalist is right on the money. How can you say that I don't understand it? The word is not "completely self-explanatory." It implies an entire political platform which is founded on the notion that the power of the federal government should be limited in such a way that it does not infringe upon the individual liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Anyone interested in reading about it can do so here: www.constitution.org/pol/us/consplat.htm
You're right about one thing. I didn't take the time to "correct" you. It wasn't my post, and I wasn't trying to define the terms for you. I merely wanted to point out certain misgivings I had with the purportedly "old" meanings of the words on your list. Please do not assume that my failure to "correct" constituted an agreement. Or was that merely a veiled reference to Edward R. Murrow's rebuke of the junior Senator from Wisconsin in "Good Night and Good Luck"?
Very interesting . . .
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