Are We Really “Under Assault”?
September 22nd, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Have you noticed that "our cherished way of life is under attack"? Or how about that the "values this country was founded on are under assault"? Assaults and attacks? Really?
I wonder why it is that politicians have taken to using such over the top superlatives to describe the folks on the other side of the aisle in our government?
I was a police officer for over 14 years. Unfortunately, I have on occasion had to fight people who for whatever reason decided that they didn’t want to be arrested. In fact, I have been in a couple of doozies with them trying to grab my gun while I was having to whack them with a nightstick while hoping that backup arrives before something really bad happens. That kind of ruckus can be legitimately described as an attack or an assault.
The wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan have led to a number of harrowing accounts of battles between American forces and insurgents including this one that led to the first Medal of Valor awarded to a living recipient since Viet Nam. These incidents can be legitimately described as attacks or assaults.
However, using such over the top language to describe the opposition using the political process to further their legislative agenda can hardly be called an "attack" or an "assault". In fact, when the complaining party used the exact same process to further their agenda was it also an "attack" or an "assault"? This kind of over the top language would make Dr. Goebbels proud.
When you hear such language you should realize that you are being manipulated. Shame on them for doing it, and shame on us for falling for it and/or tolerating it.
