Language and the words of the day

Hopefully we were all forced to read 1984 in high school. I believe this was the most productive things the educational system did for us (stayed tuned for my education system rant, coming soon). I'm sure most of us only remember the basic plot, but if you'll recall, there was a section where Orwell (the author) talks about language and how it limits thought. Basically his theory was that the language you speak determines your thoughts, because you can only think in words that you now. Newspeak obviously affected the characters in 1984 this way. I just wanted to draw your attention to two words that I believe limit us, simply because of the connotations carried with them. What does connotation mean? Well the dictionary defines words for us, but it's our mind that attaches certain ideas to them. Dictionary defines Hollywood as a city of x population located in California, major industry: film. The connotation of the word however is glitter, glam, corruption, or whatever you think of when someone mentions the word. Sometimes our connotations are shaped for us, not through personal experience, but through the media. When we were young (and even now for some of us, sadly enough), a mention of McDonald's evoked all sorts of happy images. Even though there wasn't a McDonald's in Golden. Brainwashing? I suppose. However some connotations aren't as easy to pierce through. I want to draw your attention to two words... 'politics' and 'conspiracy'.

For the layman, politics are a nasty thing. "I don't even care about politics, I hate it". This is such a typical reply that I rarely bring up the subject unless I know someone is interested. Since politics are most often despised, no attempt is made at connecting the dots and realizing that politics means a lot more than men in suits paying lip-service from some fancy building once every four years. Politics are all around us, in everything you do. From the food you eat to that homeless fellow that doesn't get to, politics integrate many social aspects of our lives. In fact, you've probably heard the term 'office politics', or at least you'll be familiar with the typical high school popularity game. Neither of these are connected to Victoria, Ottawa, or even Washington, at least not in a direct way. Everything is connected. Everything. You simply need to think deep enough about something to make the connections. The class system in high school is an exact analogy to nearly every class system that has existed in the history of man. Do you really think that office politics aren't the same in every single office? Where your food comes from, where your clothes come from, what fuels your car, what part of town you live in, the taxes you pay (or don't pay, heh heh), the stores that exist, the people living on the streets, the books and magazines available, the cost of drugs, every law, unemployment, and the radio stations available. It's all integrated into this huge word, Politics. It all goes a lot deeper than the guy selling pot on the corner, the food on the shelf, and the music you hear when you turn on the radio. Still say politics don't concern you? Impossible. I will attempt to explain each example more deeply in time, but for now, let's move onto the next word of the day....

Undoubtedly, when you think of the word conspiracy, you think of some far-fetched, ridiculous theory hatched by somebody who has nothing better to do except fantasize about someone controlling everything. In fact, in many ways conspiracies are much more down to earth than any religion, since most of them don't involve anything supernatural at all. We are made taught to believe, subliminally of course, that any theory that involves us being controlled somehow, must be a conspiracy, and that by labeling it as such, it automatically must be false. What does the dictionary have to say about the word in question? "An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act". Try and find someone that doesn't automatically dismiss any idea once you mention the word conspiracy. Think about it long enough, and you'll realize this very deep bias that penetrates the mind of almost everyone you know. The dictionary definition doesn't seem to suggest anything whatsoever about a 'conspiracy' being innately false, far-fetched, or anything of the sort. These are simply the connotations of the word. Hopefully these two examples have demonstrated how our thoughts are so often controlled by the language we speak.

"The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the Low, when they have an aim -- for it is an abiding characteristic of the Low that they are too much crushed by drudgery to be more than intermittently conscious of anything outside their daily lives -- is to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal. Thus throughout history a struggle which is the same in its main outlines recurs over and over again. For long periods the High seem to be securely in power, but sooner or later there always comes a moment when they lose either their belief in themselves, or the capacity to govern efficiently, or both. They are then overthrown by the Middle, who enlist the Low on their side by pretending to them that they are fighting for liberty and justice. As soon as they have reached their objective, the Middle thrust the Low back into their old position of servitude, and themselves become the High. Presently a new middle group splits off from one of the other groups, or from both of them, and the struggle begins all over again."
-- George Orwell, 1984

Suggested tunage:
Propagandhi - War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, Slavery is Freedom, May All Your Interventions Be Humanitarian