Words Matter Because Facts Matter

If you can’t change the facts, change people’s perspectives. This appears to be the prevailing trend, and I’ll probably tick some people off by pointing it out. Don’t care!

Someone changing how they use a word does not change what happened.

Let’s go back to how things used to be taught in school. Even better, how about some of these people look up the flipping definitions in Webster’s dictionary?

Illegal Border Crossings

Migrants are not the same thing as illegal aliens. A refugee is, by definition, neither of those, so it is not interchangeable. Can an illegal alien be a refugee? Maybe, but it is important to use the words correctly. I grew up with migrants in the late 80’s, went to school with them, and I fully understand the difference.

Riots

When people destroy property and commit violence, that’s a riot and “mob action,” not a “large gathering,” as Chicago’s Mayor Johson put it.

“This is not to obfuscate what has taken place, but we have to be careful when we use language to describe certain behavior,” Johnson said.

Yes, I agree; we should be careful, and that includes you.

Accident Discharge vs. Negligence Discharge

It’s like negligent discharge vs. accidental discharge. Alex Balwin‘s “accidental discharge” was a “negligent discharge.” With negligence, YOU screwed up, and an accident is typically a mechanical failure.

Words matter because facts matter. When you don’t use the words correctly, you change people’s perspectives.

Who besides me would like the facts and let us make our own decisions?