Why do Marxist leftists spend so much time and effort inventing new terms, redefining old ones, and attacking anyone who does not comply? Because if you control words, you control thoughts.
The famous English critic and writer Samuel Johnson, born on this day in 1784, explained this truth in his Lives of the Poets. “Language is the dress of thought,” as he eloquently put it.
He gave an example to illustrate: “As the noblest mien or most graceful action would be degraded and obscured by a garb appropriated to the gross employments of rusticks or mechanics, so the most heroick sentiments will lose their efficacy, and the most splendid ideas drop their magnificence, if they are conveyed by words used commonly upon low and trivial occasions, debased by vulgar mouths, and contaminated by inelegant applications.”
But the importance of language is much more than giving a good speech or avoiding excess vulgarities. As language expresses thought, so language influences thought.
Two obvious examples are leftists using “gay” instead of “sodomite” or “homosexual,” and “choice” instead of “abortion.” Why do most Americans, including many conservatives, now support abortion and homosexuality “in some circumstances”? Because the language changed, and with it people’s thoughts.
For Our VIPs: Newsom Laughs at Elon Over ‘Trans’ Kid, Because ‘Trans’ Is All About Stealing Kids
That is also why leftists are so maniacal about demanding preferred pronouns. They have to insist everyone use their language, because otherwise they will have to admit that reality does not conform with their ideology. There must be no cracks in the artificial bubble they have built for themselves.
Manipulation of language is constant. It is in the grammatical errors of using gender neutral pronouns, as in “everyone received their diploma” instead of “everyone received his diploma.” It is in rejections of gender specific terms such as “stewardess” and “authoress” and “fireman” and “congresswoman.”
It is in the DEI and CRT and LGBTQ propaganda in schools. It is in the climate alarmist propaganda and the race-baiting and the censorship justifications. When “free speech” is “hate speech,” and “meritocracy” is “discrimination,” and “sex” is “gender,” and “oppression” is “safety,” the whole world is turned upside down.
Read Also: BLM Leader Indicted for Fraud, Money Laundering
This desire to control thoughts is why online censorship and artificial intelligence manipulation have become veritable obsessions for leftists. They are much more panic-stricken at a social media post saying there are only two sexes than about an Islamic terrorist knifing people on the streets of New York. They are more afraid of free speech than they are of literal war.
That is also why we need to take charge of the language again. Robert F. Kennedy’s Department of Health and Human Services has begun to call trans-ing kids “sex-rejecting,” for instance. It’s brilliant. It combines truth with shock value.
He who controls the guns and money can control people’s bodies, it is true. But only he who controls the language can also control people’s minds.
