- Oct 20, 2022
- 4,879
- Thread starter
- #2,741
Yes, I totally see what you are saying and I get that but my point is more of a general one.Thanks Zeb, but while I accept that the meaning of words can evolve over time, and take on different meanings in certain settings, I don’t believe in allowing politicians who are effectively attempting to smear their opponents to completely redefine words and effectively get away with those smears.
The “when I said socialist, I meant someone with views different to my own” defence shall not stand.
You’ll note a complete absence of me describing @lasvegan as a fascist/nazi on here, and that’s because I don’t believe he’s either of those things. All I’m asking for is that we cut through the hyperbole and deal with the reality.
I just wanted to highlight that Americans have redefined ‘socialism’ - there simply isn’t an homogeneous understanding of the term and it is more concrete than just ‘settings’ - maybe read the article I posted. Our ‘Clause 4’ understanding of ’socialism’ doesn’t even come into American discourse. Right wing American politicians as British ones, use ‘socialism’ as a general slur against any politician/party espousing left wing politics. The term ‘fascism’ has also been misappropriated as a derogatory term used by left wing ideologists to slur hard right politics. I’m just saying, these terms can be very undefined, redefined and unrefined in modern political debate and often have no relation to the root ideology from which they spring..
I did also note that you were called a ‘socialist’ in a deliberately derogatory manner by @lasvegan (for which he has admitted and qualified). Sorry if I didn’t recognise that insult to you in my response.
I’m merely pointing out that it is much easier to have a dialogue about political ideologies if both sides can at least have a common understanding on the fundamental terms being used - otherwise people simply end up shouting across a canyon and listening to their own echoes.
I think we are probably on the same page tbh.