• neatchee@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      We should not allow terms like this to be coopted. It’s a pretty standard tactic: dilute the language of your opposition so it becomes harder for them to communicate effectively with an audience. Trying to constantly change your position’s vocabulary is a losing strategy as the intended audience can’t keep up. Instead, we must take back the words that are important and, for example, clearly state that it is the oppressor who is unpatriotic.

      A flag doesn’t make you a patriot. Loving guns and blind faith to Constitution doesn’t make you a patriot. It is care for your fellow American, defending the weak and disenfranchised, and protecting the ideals of self-determination and opportunity that make someone a true patriot

      • classic@fedia.io
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        4 months ago

        I really appreciate this take. In the pursuit of better language, some groups also hamper their own ability to communicate - not a slam against the attempt, but between that and the other side diluting the group’s words, it’s an uphill fight

        • Infynis@midwest.social
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          4 months ago

          not a slam against the attempt, but between that and the other side diluting the group’s words, it’s an uphill fight

          And they are absolutely doing it on purpose. Stripping meaning from words benefits them, because their side doesn’t care about truth, or facts, or policies. As long as they can make the Other suffer, their base will scream whatever the word of the day is, and every time they steal a word, it makes matching their organization a little bit harder

          • ChronosTriggerWarning@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Stripping meaning from words benefits them, because their side doesn’t care about truth, or facts, or policies.

            “Insurrection” and “impeachment” have both been getting this treatment lately.

      • kinsnik@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Just like National Socialist party wasn’t socialist, or the Democratic People’s Replubic of Korea isn’ta democracy, the patriotic republicans aren’t patriotic