Most know Lewis Carroll as the creator of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. But, in addition to being a delightful fiction writer, Carroll was also an accomplished logician, mathematician, philosopher and wordsmith.
In Through the Looking Glass, Carroll writes of a conversation between Alice and Humpty Dumpty. Alice and Humpty are arguing as to the meaning of the word "glory":
'There's glory for you!'
'I don't know what you mean by "glory,"' Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. 'Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'
'But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument,"' Alice objected.
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - - that's all.'
Power Line has two posts today which remind me of Humpty Dumpty and his ability to hijack language. The first deals with the Saudi government, and their rejection of Israel from an anti-terror convention. When the government is questioned as to why a country experiencing more terror than almost any other is being excluded, the Saudi embassy responds:
One of the foremost victims of terror??? I think not. Please keep in mind Israel is in violation of more United Nations resolutions than all other countries of the world combined. Iran is not in violation of any United Nations resolutions. Image is different than reality.
Of course, the U.N. itself turns the meaning of terror on its head, and passes resolutions that bear little relation to reality. In essence, they define "terror" as they wish to define it; not as it actually is.
The other Power Line post addresses the Eason Jordan fiasco with Jordan's outlandish statements about the American military and targeting journalists. To combat unfair charges in the press, the Pentagon has more internet information sites. But - CNN now charges that these sites constitute "propaganda." As Hindrocket puts it:
There you have it: CNN spreads misinformation about the American military; but when the military tries to defend itself against misinformation, it's "propaganda." And, while it's perfectly OK for CNN's top newsman to "reflect discredit on the U.S. government," CNN criticizes the Defense Department because DOD prefers not to do the same. This is the topsy-turvy world of the mainstream media.
Humpty Dumpty is exactly right. Co-opting the meaning of language is a move to gain or retain power. The Sauds do it. The U.N. does it. CNN does it.
And we should do all that we can to guarantee that our language is not perverted, and that power is not stolen by that process.
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