Words Gone Wild, PC and Rape

In our post below, we attempted to clarify a simple idea: That violence against humans- and rape in particular, is in no way ever equivalent to eco-mismanagement, deliberate or otherwise. Nor is rape the equivalent of the destruction and the defacing of art, deliberate or otherwise.

We wished to make clear that simply throwing words around, to further an agenda, does not legitimize the misuse of those words. Nor does attempting to derail what should be a simple argument into something less personal and more academic.

It is fashionable as of late to hurl the words 'Nazi,' and 'Holocaust' around as if simply labeling a particular group or their (unapproved by reason of agenda) behaviors make it so.

This should not be a hard concept to grasp. Nor, under normal circumstances, do the above mentioned ideas merit serious discussion.

Apparently, Political Correctness has shrouded the meaning of 'normal circumstances.' A certain political agenda it seems, allows for the use of deceit whenever that agenda deems fit.

Most of those who chose to comment seemed to grasp the idea that words do matter. Here are a selection of quotes:

"One reviles, similarly, the use of the word "Holocaust" in increasingly trivial circumstances."

"...In this context the word was used less for it's definition and more for it's sensationalism. That is the problem. Words are a powerful tool, and this was one that was mis-used."

Apparently, those realties are of little consequence to the PC crowd, where moral equivalence rules and moral relativism has become the new religion of no comittment to the notions of right and wrong. God (of PC) help anyone who might dare imply there is a right and wrong.

Another person who commented, has a whole other take on not only the word 'rape,' but what it really means:

I find it so amusing that humans take themselves so very seriously, think that they are so important, and yet continue to treat the earth with such little concern. The planet Earth has been around a lot longer than we have; we are just a blip on the radar, if you look at the lifespan of our planet, compared to the lifespan of our species. And yet now, more than ever, we have the power in this day and age, to completely destroy this planet, this planet that gives us life. If we as a species don't start changing what we are doing now, we will cease to exist. So yes, I think we should give a lot more respect to Mother Earth, and I see nothing wrong with the metaphor "rape of the land".

OK, a real concern for our planet. That's nice. We still don't see how the 'rape of the land' is equivalent to the rape of a human being- and we again, asked for that concession.

"And I will not concede, because as stated in my first post, there IS MORE THAN ONE DEFINITION OF THE WORD. As there is for many words in our English language. That's what makes it so beautiful, and at times so confusing. You are focusing on on definiton; the word has been around for a very long time and has been used in past and present very often referring to the pillage and destruction of land. Your stand, albeit noble, is narrow-minded and irrational.

It is at this point, a subtle shift occurs. There is an attempt not to deal with a reality- that the rape of a human being is worse than any 'rape' of the earth, but rather, an attempt is made to shift the discussion to language- and that somehow, the rape of a human being is equivalent- morally and otherwise, to the destruction of flora and fauna. This is moral relativism and Political Correctness run wild. It is outrageous that anyone would even attempt to link the degradation and humiliation of the rape of an individual to the destruction a micro ecosystem.

That there are authors who use the word 'rape' as metaphors is of no consequence. There have been authors that have used words to justify hate and intolerance. Do they too, get a pass because of word etymology or word definitions? While some are tempted to use the word 'Holocaust' to describe the chicken farming industry, it is by no means and accurate use of the word. In fact it is a disgusting cheapening use of a word to fit a certain political agenda.

While some authors may indeed use words as metaphors- that is, they never intend for their words to be taken literally- the fact remains that there those who do, unintentionally or otherwise, often to promote an agenda. All to often, that agenda is used by moral relativists to imply PC moral equivalence where there is none.

No doubt the person who left the comments will continue to refer to dictionaries, word definintions and word etymology as a refuge in which to hide- and make no mistake, that is exactly what it is.

In the end however, the words of those who know best ring truest:

"The misuse and exploitation of the word (rape -ed) in and of itself causes much grief to those of us who have suffered such horrors. I’m glad someone takes the time to point it out."

Lastly, the comment that perhaps best illustrates the moral vacuousness of any argument that equates the use of the word rape to anything other than it's most horrific meaning, was quoted from Dale Spender, the Australian feminist and reknowned authority on language. She is the author of the seminal work, Man Made Language and someone to whom word etymology is not exactly unknown. While we cannot say we are familiar with all of Spender's works or even that we would agree with all her writing, we are impressed with these words, in which she describes the origins and definition of the word rape:

...an absence of force in the name `rape' which does not reveal it as a vicious sexual act. This in turn is one of the reasons it can be used metaphorically without distaste. The use of the metaphor reinforces the legitimacy of the term and of the act, therefore perpetuating the conscious or unconscious acceptance of `resourcismo' - the view that both Nature and women can be managed for man's use."

My, my, not very PC, is it? Imagine- a distinction between rape and flora/fauna abuse!

Not to worry, the moral relativists will concoct another meaning, (mis)using more words, to buttress an agenda. More deceit, business as usual.

Plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme.