Language matters in mental health. The words we use shape how we see the world–and ourselves. The words we choose and the meanings we attach to them influence our decisions, beliefs, and well-being. We have a choice in the words we use to describe ourselves, others, and the world around us. – Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
Amid my country’s current enthused turn toward authoritarianism, I propose to reframe the daily dialogue.
Obviously this isn’t a task aimed at convincing millions of people to examine their errors; rather, my quest is designed to help me, and maybe a few others, understand what is happening and why. To do so, usage matters.
Accordingly, the MAGA propaganda trope has been around a while now, and is effective enough for the agitprop it was erected to be: Make America Great Again. It is utter nonsense and cannot withstand examination, and yet simplistic slogans eternally resonate with humans, primarily because they are easy substitutes for deeper thinking.
But the way I see it, the phrase is better stated like this: Make Trump Voters Responsible for Their Actions Again.
Granted, MTVRFTAA looks more like a series of Roman numerals at the Stupor Bowl than a fist-pumping tool for right-wing political orgasms, yet I’m striving for accuracy in language first and foremost, and as a means of illustrating my point, here are two ways of saying the same thing, paired for the sake of comparison.
- INCORRECT: Trump Just Put Endangered Species in the Hands of Fossil Fuel Executives
- CORRECT: My Friends and NeighborsJust Put Endangered Species in the Hands of Fossil Fuel Executives
And:
- Trump Unleashes Chaos on Americans, Puts Public Safety At Risk
- My Friends and Neighbors Unleash Chaos on Americans, Puts Public Safety At Risk
And:
- Trump Invokes Authoritarian Powers on Day One to Gut Environmental Protections
- My Friends and Neighbors Invoke Authoritarian Powers on Day One to Gut Environmental Protections
You get the drift.
I recommend that henceforth, look at the headlines as indicators of those ultimately bearing responsibility for the carnage.
After all, Trump voters are at present dancing daily public jigs. They’re delighted to openly acknowledge their roles in instigating a great many consequences that stand to scourge the detested libtards, even if they, the MAGA faithful themselves, are destined also to suffer.
Cause and effect may not be among MAGA’s strong suits, but make no mistake; they’re reveling in your discomfort.
However, I was raised to be polite, and to tell the truth whenever possible, so to my friends and neighbors serving Trump, I graciously acquiesce in acknowledging your fundamental responsibility in this lurch toward dictatorship.
It’s all about YOU, friends and neighbors. You’ve done it!
It’s your country now, albeit it one relieved of any obligation toward procedural matters like a Constitution, which only yesterday you were telling me was of paramount importance. Perhaps Elon Musk needed it for use as toilet paper during a ketamine binge.
But yes, only the money accumulated at the expense of the commonweal by Musk and his oligarchic brethren’s matters now, not any pesky notions of diversity, equity and inclusiveness.
Never mind that The MAGA Corps will not see a cent of the wealth Musk and company stands to pillage, grift and accumulate from their crusade to end “waste,” which of course is intended to transfer this “waste” into their own pockets.
Let’s be clear, then. Our friends and neighbors – and a few blood relatives, to boot – have made this transformation to 1939 possible, so can we just be honest about who gets the credit?
It isn’t Trump. He’s merely the spear’s tip.
The weapon itself is being jabbed into your abdomen by our friends and neighbors, and while this isn’t entirely unexpected, I’d suggest that the vigor and cruelty with which they’re twisting the blade is greater reason to use language properly by giving them complete credit for the atrocities.
It’s only fair.
