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This is a SEMANTIC CAMPAIGN in action: a broad-based project to redefine the meaning of a "loaded" word or phrase for political purposes
Democrats want to EXPAND "concentration camps" to include detention centers
And REDEFINE "nationalism" as fascism
A thread
Democrats want to EXPAND "concentration camps" to include detention centers
And REDEFINE "nationalism" as fascism
A thread
This is not the first Democrat semantic campaign
The academic project to NARROW the definition "racism" to "prejudice plus power" was one
Another was the move to BROADEN the definition of "white supremacy" to include "social structures designed by white people"
The academic project to NARROW the definition "racism" to "prejudice plus power" was one
Another was the move to BROADEN the definition of "white supremacy" to include "social structures designed by white people"
Conservatives sometimes mistakenly assume that words have a fixed or objective meaning
They don't; at most they have a "best" reading
Words change meaning over time based on USAGE
Meaning that political actors have an incentive to CHANGE usage to win debates with semantics
They don't; at most they have a "best" reading
Words change meaning over time based on USAGE
Meaning that political actors have an incentive to CHANGE usage to win debates with semantics
The answer to a semantic campaign depends on a number of factors
1) How important is a particular loaded word or phrase to your political project? Are there alternatives that could replace the contested word?
2) How likely are you to "defeat" your adversaries' campaign?
1) How important is a particular loaded word or phrase to your political project? Are there alternatives that could replace the contested word?
2) How likely are you to "defeat" your adversaries' campaign?
For example, with RACISM, I think the proper answer is to route around the Democrats' semantic work
Rather than fighting over whether "Democrats are the real racists"
Simply call them BIGOTS
I explained that move here:
humanevents.com/2019/05/10/pro…
Rather than fighting over whether "Democrats are the real racists"
Simply call them BIGOTS
I explained that move here:
humanevents.com/2019/05/10/pro…
With "nationalism" the calculation changes
There isn't another alternative word that captures what "nationalism" does
If you can't defend NATIONALISM how can you defend your NATION?
So in the Cuomo clip above, @CortesSteve did the right thing by defending the concept
There isn't another alternative word that captures what "nationalism" does
If you can't defend NATIONALISM how can you defend your NATION?
So in the Cuomo clip above, @CortesSteve did the right thing by defending the concept
Other moves @cortessteve could have made (and that you can make yourself!)
- When Cuomo tried to redefine nationalism, you can take the high ground - "that's a BIGOTED definition, you're slandering a whole group of Americans who love their country with that"
- When Cuomo tried to redefine nationalism, you can take the high ground - "that's a BIGOTED definition, you're slandering a whole group of Americans who love their country with that"
When Cuomo rebutted him with "that's not NATIONALISM, that's PATRIOTISM"
the rejoinder is - "Wait, Chris, are you saying that Democrats are UNPATRIOTIC? Because that's what your definition implies."
Patriotism is just supporting your country, broadly
Nationalism is an ideology
the rejoinder is - "Wait, Chris, are you saying that Democrats are UNPATRIOTIC? Because that's what your definition implies."
Patriotism is just supporting your country, broadly
Nationalism is an ideology
Also - conservatives should USE semantic campaigns, not ignore them
PLATFORM ACCESS IS A CIVIL RIGHT is a semantic campaign
If access to FB/Twitter is understood as a civil right, "muh private company" stops working
Because private companies can't violate civil rights
FIN
PLATFORM ACCESS IS A CIVIL RIGHT is a semantic campaign
If access to FB/Twitter is understood as a civil right, "muh private company" stops working
Because private companies can't violate civil rights
FIN
