"WHEN I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."
So speaks Humpty Dumpty, and it is a philosophy of language which elements of the peace movement appear to have embraced with particular enthusiasm.
When prefacing "nuclear disarmament" the word "unilateral" was previously used to intimate ethical superiority, integrity, a righteous disregard for the normal democratic channels, autonomy, free thinking.
Presently, the same word, when used to prefix "American action" is used to connote gross moral turpitude, duplicity, arrogant contempt for legitimate democratic processes, maverickism, prejudice.
George Orwell, a keen observer of the English language and its use and abuse for political ends, coined two words which seem particularly apposite: double-think and newspeak.
Mr S Dalby,
Irwin Avenue,
York.
Updated: 11:02 Monday, October 07, 2002
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