Language

Language - The road to consensus or tool of trickery?

If you’re a SciFi fan you know that successful “first contact” is essential to avoiding interplanetary conflict. When the first Vulcan arrived on Earth, he uttered the greeting: “Live Long and Prosper” Not understanding what he said, the good-old-boys asked themselves: “Was that a sexual innuendo concerning our Mother?”

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and friendship evolved despite problems with the language. After the Universal Translator was perfected Earthlings didn’t have to guess if Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, or others were disrespecting their ancestors because accurate definitions of words in each language could be interchanged by a competent artificial intelligence. Conflicts still arose from cultural and other differences but linguistic misunderstandings were eliminated and common ground was found. A Universal Translator would be helpful indeed in today’s socio-political discourse.

Protest = Riot?

Today's “Journalism” - and I use the term loosely - is rife with words that don’t seem to portray the meaning indicated by the context of the story, For example: “During the protest, protestors broke into the store and made off with the loot.”  Perhaps the word “protest” should have been “riot” and the word “protestor” should have been “looter”.

Given the diminished level of professionalism rampant in Journalism today, a case could be made that the writer simply didn’t know any better or that she was allowing a personal bias to color the context of her “reporting.” An improper but innocent choice of words, perhaps? Okay, let’s give her the benefit of the doubt. It’s understandable that this writer doesn’t want to offend the person stealing the boom box. He was, after all, just about to turn his life around and was carrying that gun only to protect himself from police brutality. 

Journalistic incompetence and a writer’s innocent display of “snowflake syndrome” are more to be pitied than scorned. In bygone times professional growth, fostered by seasoned editors and peer pressure would eventually instill competence, ethics, and integrity into such writers or weed them out. Regrettably, yellow journalism has flushed integrity out of the profession to a point where internal enforcement of professional standards no longer seems to exist.

Alas, this kind of mischievous behavior, which might be labeled as merely misguided, is not the most dangerous misuse of the language. More sinister forces have latched on to the practice of “dictionary creep” in an intentional effort to deceive.

It’s bad enough that individual “journalists” and well-meaning “activists” carve up the language in an effort to deceive the public or promulgate a bit of sensationalism but when established media organizations engage in this onerous practice they have violated the public trust.  Historically, the Fourth Estate, with the First Amendment as its powerful shield, has stood as the ultimate independent force standing between the people and tyranny. Today, most of the established media has gone over to the dark side, pledging its allegiance to the god of profit instead of fairness and integrity. Sensationalism sells, and the rape of the English language is a powerful building block in that effort.

Justice = Revenge?

Advocates of one side or the other in a political or cultural debate have adopted the “dictionary creep” tactic to draw attention to their viewpoint. Cries for revenge following a violent incident are frequently shrouded with the word “justice.” Revenge is an understandable and common emotion, although our legal system does not guarantee it nor does it even condone it. Justice, on the other hand, is both guaranteed and universally supported. Seeking revenge won't get you nearly as much sympathy as seeking justice.

Calls for “justice” from a violent mob of arsonists sounds a lot like “let’s give him a fair trial and then hang him.” Elected officials and celebrities who pander to these mobs are guilty of a most egregious crime against our society. “The maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings” is not the same as: “to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit.”

The substitution of justice for revenge, when uttered by an emotionally involved party, is understandable, albeit inexcusable. Community leaders, clerics, and elected officials do a much greater disservice to us all, and especially the injured parties, however, when they obfuscate the discourse in this manner. Their thinly-veiled attention-seeking gives false hope to their constituents and causes doubt in others. Neither is conducive to producing an equitable solution.

Racist?

“That’s racist!” is a cry often heard as a reply to a statement in a debate. It often really means; “That’s a point of view with which I disagree (but I don’t have a logical or valid reply).” According to Dictionary.Com, “Racism is the doctrine that one's own racial group is superior or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.” While it’s universally accepted (or should be) that racism, as defined here, is wrong thinking, it is equally wrong to slander someone with the term “racist” through the misuse of that term. A person is not a racist just because she disagrees with the concept of reparations, affirmative action, immigration quotas, or DC statehood, among others. Many other important factors are at play in these debates. A preference for using a knife and fork over chopsticks does not mean a diner is anti-Asian.

Change is inevitable. When it is effected through reasonable debate and consensus it will enhance our society and endure. When it is imposed through trickery or tyranny it will not endure nor will anyone benefit from it.

Perhaps Elon Musk will perfect the Universal Translator or Biden will buy us all a copy of Merriam-Webster

Justice?

 

Let’s set aside, for the moment, discussion about the accuracy of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. After all, the American Justice System includes an opportunity to appeal a conviction before “justice” is fully served. Perhaps justice was served for George Floyd but the health of our Republic has been damaged.

Certain elements in our society and, a coven of elected officials. have used the process for selfish reasons and this is a greater travesty that denies justice to the American people and even to the family and supporters of George Floyd. Their words and actions will likely diminish or delay, rather than enhance, any meaningful reform.

Our justice system has evolved over the 250 years of our Republic into one that represents the will of the majority while preserving the rights of the minority. It's not perfect but it is the best on the planet. Neither side holds, nor should it, unilateral power over the process. Elected officials, political pundits, and charismatic idiots don’t get to sway the process on a case-by-case basis. They tried to do just that in the Chauvin trial.

Too many of the voices we’ve heard during the months of pre-trial rancor have unilaterally amended the dictionary to change the meaning of “Justice”.  Justice is NOT the term we use to describe a conclusion which agrees with our own worldview. Justice is NOT a synonym for Revenge. It is a term that describes a conclusion arrived at by the application of an established set of rules applied evenly and fairly. Criminal Justice in America includes indictment, trial, sentencing, and appeals. True justice cannot be served until all of the system’s components have been utilized.

When the majority agrees that some facet of our criminal justice or policing system needs changing, there are established procedures for effecting such change. Looting and other violence are not among them. When a citizen, or minority group of them, advocates a change they must convince others of the validity of their opinion and that their proposal should indeed be applied to all - uniformly and fairly. Violent acts by members of the minority do not, usually, prompt sympathy from proponents of the opposite viewpoint. Police supporters, for instance, will not be favorably impressed by a “protester” throwing rocks at a police officer on duty at the protest even though they may privately support some of the grievances of the protestors.

Some of our elected cockwombles have egregiously violated decorum, precedent, and their oaths of office when inciting violence ("get more confrontational") in earshot of the jury during the trial or uttering thinly veiled advice to the jury (“praying the verdict is the right verdict”). It plausibly deniable that these two were inciting violence and attempting to tamper with the jury but both statements are utterly transparent in their real intent - considering the source and surrounding narrative. The word “pandering” comes to mind. Solidifying support from the oppressed masses is a favorite tactic of tyrants and it’s even better when they can do that without any political or monetary cost.

Some might think that sacrificing 20 or 30 years of Derek Chauvin’s freedom is preferable to the predictable violence an acquittal might bring. If so, they think WRONG. To do so would be to cave in our Republic to mob rule, and acceptance of violence as a way to define our culture. Facts and procedures at trial should have determined the verdict, not the political landscape. Pandering to evil NEVER leads to a better world, just ask Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s countrymen.

IF the Chauvin trial is overturned on appeal due to the rhetoric of Yellow Journalists, Mad Max, Sleepy Joe, and the Demoncrats, any violence that ensues will be laid squarely at their feet.

Aside from the damage done to the Republic that we’ve spent so much time, money, and blood preserving, building, and refining over the years, the sheer divisiveness promulgated by this kind of rhetoric delays the time when reasonable reform can be made. It’s damaging and regrettable when an “activist” or “journalist” makes such heinous comments but these words from elected officials are blatantly incompetent or criminal and especially egregious.

Police brutality and incompetence exist; as well as prosecutorial misconduct, governmental apathy, and, to some extent, systematic racism. We must eliminate or minimize these things to the extent possible. We can only do so effectively, however, through healthy debate and reasoned legislation. Rioting and misguided politicians hinder this process.

Facebook Court

Facebook Court

I have a wonderful suggestion for (not my) President Biden, Camel-a, and the Demoncrats. Let’s turn the criminal justice system over to Zuckerberg and the Facebook Narrative Preservationists. We could get rid of all the pesky logic and intellectual constraints and get quickly to the emotionally charged verdict that supports the concept of revenge (aka Justice).

Under this system, known as Facebook Narrative, any event which caused harm or offense would be subject to scrutiny by a hoard of charismatic idiots who care not a whit for truth, justice, or the American Way. The hoard would pick a side and pile on until the “guilty” party is eviscerated.

A culprit may be tried only upon proper indictment. Anyone with access to a keyboard and the internet would be authorized to indict a “suspect” to be “held accountable” (identified for punishment prior to conviction). Such an indictment would authorize the Facebook hoard to stalk, hound, harras, and defame the suspect while his/her “trial” (aka inquisition) is underway. The family and friends of the suspect - no matter how distant their relationship - would also be subject to these pre-inquisition procedures.

Rules of Evidence

Members of the hoard who have evidence (aka unsupported, illogical, deceitful, or otherwise surreptitious opinion and innuendo) are authorized to submit such evidence with or without any claim of expertise, with or without any proof of authenticity, or with or without any actual bearing on the case, as long as such evidence fits the narrative of the hoard - no matter how vague such narrative might be.

It is permissible for written evidence to be fabricated, taken out of context, or otherwise modified from its original form as long as the final version supports the narrative. It is permissible for any visual evidence to be modified to enhance the narrative.

Any evidence submitted that does not fit the narrative shall be submitted to the Facebook censors for exclusion and will be included only if such evidence has little or no effect on the narrative.

Terminology  Conventional dictionaries shall be ignored. When used in the context of evidence, words shall be construed to mean whatever the prosecutor desires. Typically acceptable definitions are, but are not limited to:

• Justice = Revenge. That which gives the hoard the most satisfaction.
• Fairness = Victim’s Advantage. Items that serve to enhance the narrative.
• Equity = Elevating the entitlement of a victim to a level otherwise unattainable.
• Eyewitness = A person who may or may not have personally observed something and who may or may not have a clear recollection of what he/she saw or a person whose testimony is or is not credible.
• Expert Witness = A person who may or may not have any experience, education, or expertise in the subject at hand but, if not, has slept in a Holiday Inn at least once in his/her current lifetime.
• Judge = A secret computer algorithm designed to preserve the narrative, censor any conflicting evidence, and ban any person from presenting unwanted evidence - especially facts.

A trial may continue without limit of time but shall be considered concluded when ten days have elapsed without additional evidence being submitted by the hoard. At such time sentence shall be imposed by the Judge and shall be the most violent or egregious that has been proposed by the hoard during the trial. The most prominent sentencing precedent is the case of Victim vs. Grandpa.

In this case, Victim rode his dirt bike through Grandpa’s flower garden. Witnesses testified that Grandpa had a scowl on his face and demanded that Victim get off his lawn. Victim testified that he felt threatened by Grandpa and was offended by Grandpa’s use of standard English language. Victim’s mother testified that her son was a good boy and was just about to turn his life around except for gang members who provided him with the dirt bike and promised him a reward of cocaine for destroying flower beds.

The hoard decided that Grandpa should pay Victim $100,000 for pain and suffering and that Grandpa should perform 120 hours of community service.

The transfer of our criminal court system to Facebook could save millions of dollars of tax money. Of course, the State Court system would have to be federalized but that should be easy enough to do, what with all the other Demoncratic power-grabbing that’s going on, e.g.:

• Packing the Supreme Court
• Federalizing Election Laws - HR1
• Federalizing local zoning ordinances - “Infrastructure” Bill
• Federalizing parental rights - equity act
• Gun Control
• Militarization of local Police

We could use the money we save on criminal courts to fund more gender studies in Packistan and maybe study the sex habits of box turtles in Bolivia. We might even have enough left over to buy a Tesla for illegal aliens and build another Ford plant in India.

One big downside is that lots of lawyers would be out of work, but we could give them $5,000/week unemployment and still be ahead of the game. Unscrupulous, over-zealous, and incompetent prosecutors would also have to seek other sectors of the community in which to practice their deceit. 

Gun Control - circa 2021

 

Gun Control - keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to destroy something.

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away a well-intentioned do-gooder fell off a turnip truck in front of the Democratic National Convention hall and was appointed dictator of the country. Nobody with half a brain wanted the job because of the cultural taboo against honesty in journalism - which resulted in so much libelous mud-slinging - so the FNG was drafted.

Now, after his coronation, the new dictator, Sleepy Joe, took a few days to look around and found a “problem” that he could take care of. It seems that some folks used a gun to commit crimes. Everyone agreed that something should be done about gun violence but there wasn’t a clear solution everyone could agree that would actually work.

Not being one to apply intellect to a given problem, Sleepy Joe came up with a “do something even if it’s wrong so we can at least feel good about passing a new law” solution - he demanded that everyone give up their guns.

During the debate over Sleepy Joe’s edict, a freelance journalist, surfing the internet archive one day, came across a long-overlooked history book on the subject of the 18th and 21st amendments to the country’s constitution.  It seems that alcohol had once been outlawed in an effort to eliminate the detrimental effects of its abuse. This journalist reported on this story, and the fact that the country had adopted the 21st amendment (which repealed the 18th amendment) when it found that the alcohol ban actually caused more crime, with more violence, than it prevented. The journalist was mocked, labeled as deplorable, and arrested by Sleepy Joe’s thought police.

Another fringe-media reporter dug up and published some historical information on a “War on Drugs” waged with great fanfare and at a high cost without much success. “Just say no” didn’t work and throwing thousands of urban youths in jail didn’t even slow down the cartels which earned billions of dollars flaunting the government’s effort to enforce the laws. Eventually, one of the targeted substances, marijuana - which drew the most attention of the drug cops - was removed from the prohibited list. This journalist was also mocked, labeled as deplorable, and arrested by Sleepy Joe’s thought police.

The new gun laws didn’t even reduce gun crime, much less eliminate it because evil persons don’t respect gun laws. They did, however, prevent law-abiding citizens from defending themselves and stories started filtering out about armed thugs and gangs stealing, beating, and raping - despite the mainstream media’s attempts to hide and lie about it. Eventually, law-abiding citizens were forced to become de-facto criminals when they obtained black-market weapons to defend themselves and were even sent to jail for possession of firearms used in defense of their homes and families. 

Sleepy Joe pushed his country onto a slippery slope by stealthily taking disarmament one step at a time - baby steps designed to carve off a portion of the resistance one group at a time. He assumed that the skeet shooters won’t care about AR-15s. He assumed that hunters wouldn’t care about high-capacity magazines, He assumed that naive gun owners wouldn’t know that registration leads to confiscation. “I’m from the Government and I’m here to help.”

My right to self-defense is more important than your desire to pass impotent, feel-good legislation. I have little power beyond my one vote at the ballot box but I can speak out so here it is. Don't give me the chance to tell you "I told you so."

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke