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!
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