Ari Shapiro, “Loaded Words: How Language Shapes The Gun Debate” (NPR Morning Edition, Feb. 26, 2013)
But words are not fixed points on a map. They exist on shifting ground. A phrase that once carried a punch may grow toxic or just fall limp.
“An example of this can be seen in the recent announcement that Planned Parenthood would no longer be using the term ‘pro-choice,’ ” says Ben Zimmer, executive producer of the Visual Thesaurus.
Zimmer says Planned Parenthood realized that some people support abortion rights but don’t identify with the term “pro-choice.”
And he has lots of examples from government. Democrats used to proudly call themselves “liberal.” They abandoned that word for “progressive.” And now “liberal” is making a comeback.
Then, there’s “reform.” Zimmer says politicians of both parties tack that word onto any effort to change a program — from tax reform to immigration reform.
” ‘Reform’ is one of those terms that is very charged and helps to present one’s own position as something positive — a way of advocating change in a positive light,” Zimmer says. “But what counts as reform, of course, is in the eye of the beholder.”
Politicians might call any proposal for change a “reform.” But not every change is a good change.
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