Language shapes our perception and thus our reaction to people, places, and things. In this emotionally charged political year, take a moment to listen to the language used by the left to describe their conservative counterparts.
Over the past few months, I’ve noticed a shift from the use of the word “conservative” to “right-winger”, a decidedly less than complimentary word that carries with it all sorts of baggage. For just a few seconds, let the term right-winger sink in and note the images it conjures. I’ve asked some people about those images and find the responses interesting.
First, I asked some people about what they pictured when I use the term “conservative.” They described a middle-aged man in a gray suit carrying a briefcase. When I asked them to paint a picture of a right-winger, their descriptions ranged from militia guys taking military training to people blowing up federal buildings. What a difference!
The left knows this. They understand this and they have used it to their advantage for decades. The government understands this as well, that’s why they have raised naming bills to such a high art. Take, for example, the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. The law is a 2,000-page monster that is neither affordable nor provides adequate care, but it sounds nice.
The use of the term right-winger is only the beginning. Listen to the mainstream media and their choice of words. They report the news, but they slant it with such skill that unless you really listen, you truly miss what they’re saying between the lines, but you react to it. Next time, listen, and listen well.
In the meantime, this little conservative is going to dress up in her little gray suit, grab her briefcase, and go to work to make sure a bunch of other conservatives in gray suits and carrying briefcases find their way into government.
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