Owen is a blogging friend from the UK. His post yesterday focused on the political terms we use that so many people don’t even understand, but use them almost as if they were bad words. He gives concise definitions for everything from liberalism to fascism and adds his own views of each. Though his perspective is from Brexit and the UK, he also has a good understanding of U.S. politics and sees the parallels between his country and ours. Thank you, Owen, for this helpful post!
In times of turmoil, fear and uncertainty, words matter. As ever, the dictionary provides our clarity, our definition, our truth. It is held up as a source of truth to settle arguments, to provide resolve to confusions, to finish debates.
We should look to the dictionary for simplicity in chaos. One can gain more from a two-paragraph definition than a five hundred page book about politics.
A lot of words are banded about in online arguments: Fascism, Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism. These words are weaponised, hurled as insults, but also worn as proud badges, waved as flags (don’t get me started). Sometimes though, one wonders if the users of such words actually know their meanings. I put myself in that same category, and it struck me that I should pause and recap, and refresh myself on the meanings of these…
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Good share Jill.
I left my sour addition to the definition of Socialism on Owen’s original post.
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Good comment. More and more, I’m leaning in the direction of some form of limited socialism. I don’t trust people enough to entrust the means of production to communities … but then, I don’t trust corporations, either. Sigh. Why can’t we all just share what we have with those who need it? Why does everything have to be turned into a battle?
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Conflict is ‘deemed’ to be more honourable or profitable than Conflict Resolution.
Which is why we end up with the motto:
‘If you want peace you must prepare for war,’
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Hi Jill, I left a comment on Owen’s post, but it was a lengthy one, so I will not post it here. That comment is still awaiting moferation at the time of this writing.
However, I did post in on my blog at https://wp.me/pcWlJa- where it can hopefully be found. The way Word Press is treating me these days, I am not positive it will be there for all those who try to find it.
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rawgod … your comment was longer than Owen’s original post, and twice the length of most of my posts! (The link here didn’t work, but I found it by going directly to your blog).
Like Owen, I find there’s just too much to respond to … it’s overwhelming. It reminds me of a plate … if you put too much food on my plate, I will not be able to eat it, for it will overwhelm me and make me feel full just looking at it.
I’m not trying to be critical, but you’d make your point much better if you could condense a bit … and, it would be easier for people to understand and respond to. Brevity sometimes makes a much stronger point … just sayin’.
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This is why I put it into a post, to give people the opportunity to take their time to answer. I think the importance of the idea demands careful consideration. Having said that, I could have chopped it into smaller parts, but interfered with the flow. Knowing all the pitfalls, I felt best doing it as I did.No matter how I did it, I knew people would complain.
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You’re right about that … people will always find something to complain about … including myself.
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Thanks for sharing! Definitely a post that lots and lots of people need to read.
Problem is, people don’t always see themselves as others see them.
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You are so right, Nan … I guess none of us see ourselves quite the way others do, but in some cases people have dangerous delusions and believe they are doing something positive … but for whom?
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A great posting. Thank you for sharing, Jill! Enjoy your day! Michael
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Thanks! You too, Michael!
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