To view this on the COS website, click here our-use-of-words-reveals-our-morals-clarity-in-public-discourse-is-essential-and-a-moral-imperative

How We Use Words Reveals Our Morals

Clarity in Public Discourse Is Essential and a Moral Imperative

“The lifeblood of any society is its language. Civilizations rise or falter not only by arms or economy but by the integrity of their words”. This is a portion of the opening paragraph of a commentary by Patrick Keeney in The Epoch Times for April 9-15, 2025.

Keeney continues, “Societies drift from their foundations when language becomes untethered from meaning. Words, once vehicles of civic trust, have become instruments of power.” And the power of misusing words is strong enough to destroy individuals, political parties, and even a culture or a nation. The Nazis were able to effectively use propaganda and advertising to usher millions of citizens of a democracy to ultimately support a dictatorship that engaged in genocide.

American politics has long been plagued by language distortion and intentional misuse. The practice accelerated after 2016, when respect for the office of president was trampled. Since then, our country has experienced how a focused hatred of a certain man and overt hatred of our country were able to bring years of wokeism, socialism, Islamic ideology, abuse of our young people and much else obviously anti-American. Open hatred and thirst for power are a nasty combination. We have fortunately turned away from that downward spiral, at least temporarily. Yet the vile opposition to our leaders continues. How does their language have such an impact?

Mr. Keeney explains “Liberal democracy rests not on unanimity but on debate. It presupposes citizens capable of reasoned judgment – citizens who can weigh claims, consider evidence and reach conclusions free of coercion. Such judgment is impossible when language is opaque, and meanings are manipulated.”

“In the tumult of the culture wars, the impulse in our public discourse is to impose a . . . uniformity on both thought and language.” By ignoring subtlety and nuance, a controversial topic can be made to look as though there is only one truth involved. In other words, citizens are manipulated into accepting just one reasonable view. Climate change is to be accepted as a settled science, for example. Whatever the issue being put forth, there is only one permissible way to think about it.

All too often “a compliant press traffics not in truth but in narrative.” “. . . the goal is not to further understanding but rather to persuade in a way that leaves the listener with no room for dissent. This is not the ‘marketplace of ideas’ . . . but a battlefield of slogans, euphemisms and distortions.” The only acceptable slant on a topic is the one presented, often with moral posturing, and is made to look like enlightened opinion.

“Such misrepresentation inflicts harm on public discourse. It replaces thoughtful engagement with moral panic and encourages not reflection but a reflexive outrage – an emotional response that narrows, rather than expands, the space for reasoned debate.”

The author continues “Sincerity and accuracy are not merely academic niceties but essential to maintaining free institutions. Without them, the very possibility of democratic deliberation collapses. In their place, we get manipulation masquerading as journalism and ideology masquerading as truth. Clarity and truth are sacrificed on the altar of political expedience.”

“The struggle for clarity, then is not a trivial or semantic matter – it is, at its core, a moral imperative.” We must speak to one another in good faith with a clear conscience. Most of the distortions in our political infighting are caused by a no-hold-barred pursuit of power. That power should be honestly earned and maintained, not inflicted by manipulated communications.

The antidote is simple: speak and write with “words that mean what they say and say what they mean. It is above all else, a commitment to the virtues of truthfulness in personal dealings and in the public sphere.” This is imperative for a country capable of continued self-government.

Allowing the flood of corruption and thought manipulation without an outcry from our citizens is very much like watching millions of unvetted aliens stream into our county. We know it is ruinous, but we watch as impotent spectators. We fail to demand a stop to the nonsense. We must become vocal to call out deception and push back. Great upheaval results from crooked language.

Lying and other distortions by political leaders is what we expect from totalitarians. Free societies require truth and honesty. We need not tolerate twisted, intentionally destructive words and ideas when we know they are destroying what is good and noble and best. “In upholding the integrity of our language and a commitment to truth, we do more than maintain the standards of civil discourse – we protect the very foundations upon which a free and humane society depends.”

Convention of States Action aims to use Article V of the Constitution for the states to propose amendments that will correct federal government overreach. Perhaps the sober work required for writing effective amendments as well as the exercise in self-government will help squelch much of the vitriolic misuse of communications that is so prevalent today. Let us not underestimate the advancement of federalism.

Learn more at https://conventionofstates.com/?ref=72990

Keeney. Patrick, The War on Words: Why Clarity in Public Discourse Is a Moral Imperative, The Epoch Times, April 9-15, 2025, A17

Page Metadata
Login Required to view?	No
Created:	2025-07-21 22:03 GMT
Updated:	2025-07-21 23:18 GMT
Published:	2025-07-21 22:26 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:06 GMT
Change Author:	Myrl Nisely
Credit Author: