George Bernard ShawOnce quoted“Britain and America are two nations divided by a common language,” he said. Today, America itself is divided by a common language. Reducing that division could help bridge the great gaps and polarization in the country.
I have argued before that it is essential to do away with hyphenated adjectives used to categorize Americans by race, religion, and nationality. We are not white, black, or green Americans. We are distinctly American. The sooner the country understands that reality, the better off we will be.
This doesn't mean that Americans can't be proud of their ethnicity or their background, but we need to be more proud of being Americans.
Unfortunately, this idea will be opposed for the following reasons:Insensitivity to identity politicsIn this case, identity dictates a sense of unity and national pride. As long as emotion prevails over reason and common sense, the nation will continue to be polarized, and the national motto of “e pluribus unum” (out of the many, one) will be inverted to “ex uno plures” (out of the one, the many).
There are two more phrases that should be eliminated from the political lexicon. The first is “Word saladThe second is “policy.”
“Word salad” is a term used to describe incoherent, disorganized speech. It was originally used by psychiatrists to describe the ramblings of mentally ill people, but has slowly made its way into our political vocabulary.
Why would someone who can't speak basic English deny reality and dismiss the comments as a string of words? Call the balls and strikes.
in Last week's debateDonald Trump may have done Biden the wrong way to defeat himself. His MAGA supporters say this is his “The best debate” he said of Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban. For reference: and falsely claim Haitian immigrants eating For pet dogs.
But Trump has come up with an ingenious variation on the word salad.It's all “weaving”.” When answering even the simplest questions, Trump zigzags with whatever comes to mind, and often ends up being unable to answer the question.
The word “policy” should also be used in an electoral context. What do those who insist that the debate should be about policy mean? Policy is not aspirations, ideas, or wishful thinking. It is a well-argued plan that aligns purpose and action. Without that, policy is a delusion.
Phrases like “close our borders,” “end inflation,” “stop the wars in Gaza and Ukraine,” and “cure cancer” are statements of intent that cannot be considered policies.
For example, how can the wars in Gaza and Ukraine be stopped? One historical example isKorean WarAfter the UN forces were pushed back from the Yalu River, which separates Korea and China, to the 38th parallel, which separates North and South Korea, negotiations began between China and the UN forces.
China fought back, and it took months, many casualties and bloodshed. Before the ArmisticeGaza and Ukraine share a similar characteristic: they are stubborn participants unwilling to negotiate.
In Gaza Not current profits It will be difficult for Hamas or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire or ceasefire. As long as Israel continues to fight and Palestinian casualties mount, international condemnation will only grow. The UN might try Pass a resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, which would benefit Hamas.
Prime Minister Netanyahu faces existential political crisisThreats to his leadershipHis only option is to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, so any policy to end the war will be hollow until a way can be worked out for Hamas and Netanyahu to reconcile.
In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin have no interest in negotiating. Ukraine wants its territories back, especially Crimea. Putin wants more influence and control over Ukraine. How are you going to convince or convince both parties that negotiations are in their mutual interest?
Again, words matter. Hyphenated adjectives, “word lists,” and “policies” have become words that convey division and discord, not unity.
This may seem like a secondary issue: After all, would the United States be less divided if these words were removed from the dictionary? Probably not.
But this is just the beginning. The correct use of language is essential for a healthy democracy and for the communication of truth and facts. Without both, any country struggles.
Harlan UllmanHe holds a PhD and is a senior advisor to the Atlantic Council and lead author of “Shock and Awe” Military Doctrine. His 12th book is “The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How a Massive Disruption Attack Became a Looming Existential Crisis for a Divided Nation and the Entire World“
