The Only Constant
Language is always changing.
I have often been accused of being a “grammar nazi.” Yet, when it comes to things language related
I think of myself as being fairly flexible.
In my education I have learned that language is an ever
changing, living thing and it never remains “the same.” The same as what? Latin died.
Yet, remnants live within many tongues.
Just like music and probably also body language, it is a fluid and morphous
thing with countless hybrids cropping up.
So, who am I to be a “grammar nazi” although I try to draw the line at
understanding. When language becomes
incomprehensible, then there is no “language” at all. The entire point is to communicate.
I mean, imagine being suddenly thrust into a world where
people are talking about making bread, and being groovy, and bad really
meant…well, bad….and not good. When no
one in their right mind ever said, “Yeah…no,” without being completely
misunderstood. It wasn’t so long ago.
Those natural changes to language I have come to understand
and accept. Lexicons, vulgarisms,
everyday phrases…..I get it. I accept
them. What bothers me the most is the
political takeover of language, of labels, of meanings, of symbols. That is disturbing, unnatural and dangerous.
George Carlin gave a scathing speech about it years
ago. Political speech. Calling things …not what they are. Calling them something more palatable that
the masses will swallow. Something no
one will truly understand but they will think they do and they will repeat it
and repeat it because, gosh, it sounds so good and everyone gets so
excited! Right to work! (The right to
get fired from a job for no good reason whatsoever) Citizens United! (Those “united” citizens are wealthy beyond
your wildest dreams and united in their quest to become even more wealthy)…
And now the big bad word is “socialism.” Socialism is a theory, an idea. It’s a basically nice one, one that values
the good of the whole society over that of one individual. Our forefathers referred to it as “the common
good.” Yeah, that is scary
SOCIALISM! Run!...No…please don’t. It isn’t scary and it isn’t bad. There actually is no working pure socialism
in the world and people who purport to scream “Aggggh! Socialiaism doesn’t work!” are just playing word games. Playing word games to scare people.
The countries where “socialism” if you will, if you insist,
works…are ALL over Europe. I live in
one. They are all combinations of
democracy and social contracts and capitalism….controlled capitalism, social
programs for the good of all society, and democracy..you know….by and for
we..the people. Remember that one? Anyone?
My mother once told me that the only constant was
change. I found that scary and sad. Over time, however, I also found that she was
exactly right. Language changes. Music changes. Governments change.
Yet it seems we keep fighting this same fight over and over
and over again and it doesn’t seem to change.
The yin and the yang, the wrong and the right, the good and the evil,
the rich against the poor….will it ever end?
Or have we already orchestrated that end?
My sense…and it is not a happy one…is that we are a terrible
species and we, as a whole, were never able to learn…not enough of us…I think
we came close…oh…so close, in the 60s….flower children, all you need is love,
what the world needs now is love, everything is beautiful…..We came close, but
we failed. And the only constant is
change…which is not a constant at all.
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