Sometimes the meaning of one synonym is given a positive connotation while a negative association is ascribed to another word which means the same thing, or near enough. And when that happens, those discriminating persons who can still be found in society will find themselves puzzled.
Take for instance the prominent case of the word ‘Critical’. Cropping up in news piece after scandalous news piece in the context of ‘Critical Race Theory,’ how many of us are pausing to consider the oddity that discrimination is bad, but criticality is apparently good? Moreover, for a theory about race to be ‘Critical’ is such a good thing that all our children must be taught from little on up about it. Only do not dare discriminate.
If we were more discriminating, and better at it, we would not fall for these shell games. The sleight of hand would not trick us.
But now the winds and rains have come and all the houses built on the shore must be tested now to see what sort of foundation they were built on. Those who do not know and refuse to learn how to critique along the correct lines – moreover rejecting the idea that there is any such thing as ‘correct’ and ‘incorrect’ – will find that their homes were built on shifting sands and fall accordingly.
What is needed is not a new and better theory for understanding class struggle and inequity from 30,000 feet. Very ancient, even eternal, principles of planks and specks are what we need to recall. And on these we predicate the right judgment Christ told us to judge with.
