politics itself
mass of lies, evasions, folly
schizophrenia
In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.
The inflated style is itself a kind of euphemism.
A mass of Latin words falls upon the facts like soft snow, blurring the outlines and covering up all the details. The great enemy of clear language is insincerity.
When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink.
In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics’.
All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.
From Politics and the English Language (1946) by George Orwell as it appeared in the book, Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays. These essays were written during the period 1931-1949. While they have been published individually, they were published together in a Collected Works in 1968.
This essay, was written in the year after the end of World War 2, by the author of the book, 1984.
A time perhaps more hopeful as good triumphed over evil and at the same time more despondent with the advent of the atomic bomb and the revelation of the holocaust.
Mr. Orwell writes, “A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks.”
Chicken or egg?
Signs of the problems were evident to Mr. Orwell in the way folks used the English language.
As in 1946, so today, … political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.
The new Speaker of the House has spoken out on he is guided by his Christian Faith and that, despite the evidence, feels that the 2020 election was stolen which means countless witnesses and courts are all part of the lying.
And when the new Speaker defends the indefensible, watch his use of language.
The defense of the indefensible.
Watch for long words and exhausted idioms.
Mr. Orwell does offer some hope or a sign of hope.
Continue to look at the use of language.
Mr. Orwell writes, “The slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible.
If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration.”
Once CAN think more clearly.
To think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration.
Boy howdy, but I cannot for the life of me think of the last time I heard or read anything having to do with Government, elections or candidates that in any way referenced the concept of ‘thinking clearly.’
As Big Bill put it … ’tis a consummation devoutly to be wish’d.”
And we can take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them.
Just watch your language.
