Tortured Language

Language is a subtle symbolic construct that can change perception and play with emotion. That is why words and statements are defined by different societies as "good" and "bad," and certain statements are considered truth, taboo, or treasonous. Consider the threat that Galileo's observations posed to the Church, and, by extension, the State. Consider the evil, but masterful, propaganda of the Third Reich, how "Arbeit macht Frei" supported Holocaust

.

George Carlin, heir to Lenny Bruce, highlighted shocking words and mocking oxymorons that are now routinely used as commentary and punctuation at this site and throughout our society at large. One of our honoured Elder Statesmen famously explained smoking without inhaling and parsed the definition of what "is" is, to our consternation and embarassment.

We have all debated the inability of our partisans to effectively communicate and connect with our Red State cousins. A Presidential candidate could not clearly explain how he voted for a bill before he voted against it. Good, if clumsy-tongued people were smeared and ridiculed by the disciplined Rovian propaganda machine to help leverage a 'sorta-legal' coup de tet for the chickenshit Thugs who see
themselves as  the deciders and definers of reality

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And now the passage of HR6166 and S3930 effectively redefines torture as not torture. I am sick with fury at this tortured language and the desecration of American ideals. But, there is a light in the darkness, for we are counting down to November 7th, a day we should consider a secular holy day of obligation. I would like to suggest that we need to stop the intellectual arguments, stop trying to explain and define and place in historical context like good Liberals always do.

We know what torture is, and we need to make people choose their sides. We need to be aggressive and confrontatory. Not just the candidates and incumbents, but our co-workers, our neighbors, our family and friends. Our government supports torture: do you? Perhaps we can borrow a strategy from Kagro X's IMPEACH
campaign and post guerilla banners with questions like "Bush Supports Torture: Do YOU?

Bluerevolt has done us the great favour of compiling a List of Tyranny's Congressional Enablers and their challengers. We need to show up at the incumbent campaign stops and announce in no uncertain terms
that they are supporters of torture. We need to strongly urge their challengers to proclaim their support of torture as a key reason that they should be defeated - because they dishonour America.

Be angry, and proclaim your patriotism proudly and unashamed. Refuse to play word games. Make no mistake, we are confronting EVIL in perhaps its most naked and living-next-door form.

Oh, it's not torture? We're soft on terrorism? Call angry bullshit on that one. The Red Tyranny used to proclaim themselves the party of values, didn't they? Well, give this one a try:

DO NOT DO THOSE THINGS TO ANOTHER THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THEM DO TO YOU.

No excuses, no extenuating circumstances, and no apologies.

•  I am angry. Just like you.

  But, please quit using the I didn't inhale meme.  I heard Bill Clinton explain exactly why he didn't inhale.  You see, he never smoked.  Anything.  Cigarettes or pot.  He didn't inhale because it was uncomfortable.  He said he had nothing moral against it.  It was purely a matter of discomfort.

  If you've never smoked go puff on a cigarette for the first time.  See what happens.

  Nonetheless, I am ashamed that my country would become the new Nazis.  Fuck me.

  by Ghost of Frank Zappa on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 11:18:47 PM PDT

  •  Bill's Explanation

    You're right in terms of the specific facts, of course. Unfortunately, the meme  has, I think, taken root as surely as any cliche, urban legend, or bit of folk wisdumb. Like "Play it again, Sam." An unfair hit, but one that has to be dealt with as if it were real, i.e., for a savvy poltician, it was badly stated. It's similar to Kerry's infamous voted for/before against. Those of us with inquiring minds understood what he was talking about, but you'll never get the vox popoli to understand it (is that cynical? or real?).

    by Uthaclena on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 11:32:31 PM PDT