https://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2011/03/27/calling-things-by-their-right-names-a-lesson-from-confucius/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usFri, 12 Jun 2026 16:37:38 -0400<![CDATA[Writing yesterday about what Obama’s minions are calling our  “kinetic military activity” in Libya, I noted that the folks presiding over Orwell’s Newspeak would have liked the phrase “kinetic military activity.” As a mendacious and evasive euphemism for “war” it is hard to beat.  But Orwell is not the only important thinker the Obama administration’s assault on the English language brings to mind. There is also Confucius.]]>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:55:13 -0400<![CDATA[Roger Kimball]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-kimball/2011/03/27/calling-things-by-their-right-names-a-lesson-from-confucius-n116551