The Meaning of Words Part 2-Is that what they really meant?

Those who use media to communicate to the American People are not being careful with their labels. I have been talking to my television for years. Certain news discussions or political shows there has been an influx of very intelligent historians and experts on authoritarians and dictatorships. These discussions go on and get repeated on so many shows it seems. I listen to them and I understand their concerns about what we see in our current political climate. They fear that this behavior is becoming normalized. Today, everybody is looking for a short cut. Q quick way to get the idea across. Besides avoiding the complexity of today’s climate, no one seems to understand that the nickname they chose doesn’t convey the same meaning to the common man. They are using the term of the oppressor. himself. The oppressor has no problem being considered a “strong man”. And no wonder, that term transmits a feeling of comfort. It implies that any person so named would take care of you. That strong man would get you through any trouble.

By saying strong man when referring to the fascist, the nihilist, or the dictator, these experts of these political philosophies reenforce the positive emotion of that label. The common man would consider an autocrat who takes away individual freedoms negatively. The regular American is not in favor of losing the freedom of speech; the freedom of the press(or podcast); the freedom of a community to assemble for legitimate purposes and a legitimate electoral process. By these expert historians using the label ” strongman” they are using the words that do not convey the danger that American Democracy is facing. A history nerd like me understands the historical references and knows to be afraid. But the average person hears comfort and competence in the “strongman” label. Wouldn’t you want some body like that in charge? The danger in using the ‘strong man’ label you using the language the oppressor wants. You are showing him in the light he wants to be seen. You reenforced their message instead of fighting against it. Words have meaning and we must listen and understand what the general public is hearing. You can’t label someone a strong man over and over again and expect that people think that is a bad thing. No wonder they didn’t hear the danger; you didn’t use words that meant what you wanted to say.