I'm fascinated (and often dismayed) by the manner in which liberals and conservatives can talk past each other when debating the issues of the day. Some people are so committed to their side winning a particular argument that they forget the most important goal of dialogue--discovering the truth.
Truth becomes elusive when words lose their meaning, which occurs when language is used improperly. Irresponsible people eviscerate the meaning of certain words and ideas-to the detriment of their own argument-when they employ hyperbole while engaging in highly-charged, emotional debates.
"Evil" is a word/idea that is often misapplied in today's political discourse (e.g. Bush = Hitler; Guantanamo Bay = Soviet Gulag; America = snake pit of fascism, etc.). In this excellent, must-read article, Dennis Prager discusses how the improper application of "evil" throughout the last century has made it more difficult for liberals and conservatives to reach consensus on truth (that this has implications today beyond the philosophical is evidenced by the apocalyptic tone heard in Washington D.C. about every other week). Read the whole article. It's a reminder that the capricious use of language in political debate causes truth and civility to become the primary casualties in the war of ideas.
1 comment:
There's just too much to say here. Good thing we live together.
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