Winning Wars With Words
Sometimes Saintly Nick is a relatively new online friend. He's 61, a veteran, a cat lover, and a retired United Church of Christ minister. UCC is the church which aroused the ire of the fundies by welcoming Sponge Bob. Some of the major t.v. networks refused to run their commercials.
He's also one of the most loving, gentle men I've met online.
He writes about many things. His last post began "Yesterday I wrote about the use of terminology to degrade and dehumanize other people. Today I want to take it a step further and propose that the deliberate use of such terminology is a very effective weapon of war."
This, the earlier post, recounts our long history of dehumanization.
And this contains a link to a glossary of dehumanizing words.
Nick says "Did you find yourself—your national or ethnic group—in the Racial Slur Database? If not, you didn’t look long enough. "
Thomas LB, who visits here from time to time, commented on Nick's "glossary" post:
ThomasLB said...
"Once you get past the racial slurs, there are even sub-catagories of slurs based on religion, politics, money (or the lack thereof), appearance, sexuality…
Man: what pitiful creatures we are."
Amen, Thomas, Amen.
COMMENTS:
Worried said...
Why, Why, WHY we humans must dehumanize our fellow humans is incomprehensible to me. Is it that some of us are so insecure, suffer from such low self esteem and perceived inferiority that the only way we can feel BIG, feel worthy, is to attempt to gain a feeling and position of superiority by dehumanizing and castigating others? One of my precious great-grandchildren is a blue eyed blonde with fairer skin than mine. He is also biracial, 1/8th African-American (an "octoroon"). He is tormented with the epithet of "negrito", used in a derogatory manner. Who abuses this innocent child, damages his self esteem and sense of worth as a human being by virtue of his ancestry? His PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, who brought the African genes into the bloodline by marrying and bearing a son (the child's father) by him. Her motive for this racial discrimination and torment of her grandson? I cannot imagine.
He's also one of the most loving, gentle men I've met online.
He writes about many things. His last post began "Yesterday I wrote about the use of terminology to degrade and dehumanize other people. Today I want to take it a step further and propose that the deliberate use of such terminology is a very effective weapon of war."
This, the earlier post, recounts our long history of dehumanization.
And this contains a link to a glossary of dehumanizing words.
Nick says "Did you find yourself—your national or ethnic group—in the Racial Slur Database? If not, you didn’t look long enough. "
Thomas LB, who visits here from time to time, commented on Nick's "glossary" post:
ThomasLB said...
"Once you get past the racial slurs, there are even sub-catagories of slurs based on religion, politics, money (or the lack thereof), appearance, sexuality…
Man: what pitiful creatures we are."
Amen, Thomas, Amen.
COMMENTS:
Worried said...
Why, Why, WHY we humans must dehumanize our fellow humans is incomprehensible to me. Is it that some of us are so insecure, suffer from such low self esteem and perceived inferiority that the only way we can feel BIG, feel worthy, is to attempt to gain a feeling and position of superiority by dehumanizing and castigating others? One of my precious great-grandchildren is a blue eyed blonde with fairer skin than mine. He is also biracial, 1/8th African-American (an "octoroon"). He is tormented with the epithet of "negrito", used in a derogatory manner. Who abuses this innocent child, damages his self esteem and sense of worth as a human being by virtue of his ancestry? His PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, who brought the African genes into the bloodline by marrying and bearing a son (the child's father) by him. Her motive for this racial discrimination and torment of her grandson? I cannot imagine.
Labels: granny
posted by Granny @ 6/09/2007 12:46:00 PM
Saturday, June 09, 2007 5:00:00 PM
I have to respectfully disagree with some portions of your post. Every human being has their faults. Some, it's glaring - racist, color hating ignorant fools. Others, it's more overt. They could do something to stop the racist - and doesn't. But use of one word doesn't make anybody "all bad." It makes the part of them that believes in that word, in need of "repair" as it were. The rest of the person may well be a citizen of the year type.
Some of the points I brought away from your post was two things: One, there needs to be a "word cop", or a filter on speech, a way to ensure we never hear those words, and never use them. Words are nothing until both sides agree on a meaning. I can call you (insert your worst hated food) all day and night long. I can shout it from the mountains. You still are not, and never will be, unless you agree that you are, a (insert named food).
Therefore, the word itself is harmless. It's nothing but a label, waiting to be given credence, or not, by both parties.
The real problem imo, lies in the thought processes that invented those words, and why!
Finally, the Political Correctness crowd has tried word elimination for years - and it's done nothing at all except drive whatever problem the word is associated with, "underground" in our minds. "If I don't say it, I'm not one, if I do say it, I am one." NO, NO! You can tell me, "you're a fat pig!" and weigh 110 pounds yourself, forever, can't you? So doing away with the word, making the word "not sound so bad", is the equal of cutting off the tip of the iceberg. Out of sight - problem fixed. Only the problem isn't fixed. It jumps up and bites us when we least expect it.
Word elimination does nothing but hide thought processes that invented the word, with each word that is judged "bad."
I call it oral book burning, and I thank you for allowing me this space.:)
Saturday, June 09, 2007 10:24:00 PM
the line that reads "Others, it's more overt." SHOULD read: "Others, it's more covert."
I should proof read better.
Saturday, June 09, 2007 10:28:00 PM
Thank you for your input, FWY. The motivation for racial bias and other kinds of discrimination still remains a mystery to me. I like to understand my fellow humans, what drives and motivates them; understanding our weaknesses and human faults helps promote good will and forgiveness. You are correct; even the best of us has flaws and failings. If we can recognize those failings we can work to overcome them and become better persons.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 11:45:00 AM
fjb said...
I just picked out some of my "personal favorites" as they relate to myself, from the database. Can you spot the irony:51st Stater, Adolf, Ahab, Bagel Dog, Brit, Canucklehead, Christ Killer, Eh-holes, Heinz, Kaaskop, Nazi, German Oven Mitt.
Sunday, June 10, 2007 1:12:00 PM
Sometimes Saintly Nick said...
I fear that THE FUTURE WAS YESTERDAY misses my points. When I speak of words that dehumanize and stereotype, I am not speaking of political correctness. I am referring to the use of terms that intentionally dehumanize—undermine a people’s humanity and individuality. Philosophers, theologians, and social scientists have been aware for many years that the way speak creates a sense of authenticity about a group, a nation, or even an automobile. So I am speaking about a very effective weapon: our use of dehumanizing terms for the enemy does not reduce their ability to fight us, but it does increase our ability to kill them. It is much easier to take the life of a Gook, a Jap, or a Kraut than it is to kill a human being.I am not speaking about having a “’word cop’, or a filter on speech.” I am not particularly fond of “political correctness.” This is much more serious than mere words, for the use of dehumanization and stereotyping is a potent weapon, especially when intentionally used by the cadres that train our soldiers. I shall expand on these thought at a later time in my blog.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007 4:21:00 AM
Jolly Roger said...
In most human beings lurks a sense of inadequacy.Some of us will recognize that it is probably a normal thing, as all human beings are flawed, and we won't let it eat us alive.Others will look for someone else to point at as an example of "worse than I am!" That's how they feel better about themselves.Fundamentalist religions and right-wing politicians have become the masters at playing on the subtle inner workings of the insecure. They don't say to you, "it's all right"; they say to you "it'd be all right, IF NOT FOR....."
Wednesday, June 13, 2007 10:00:00 AM
peppylady said...
I was over at Saintly Nick and left a comment there.We have came a long ways in getting along with others but some people are just knuckle drag fools.
Thursday, June 14, 2007 2:37:00 PM