Magic words

There seems to be a lot of magic words these days. Examples have been given before, and more examples abound. The one given before was "science". When you say that word, all debate has to stop. If you cite the word, it is like magic for some people. The effect is like: "Man, if science says that, I'd better shut up." That's why the magic words are used. It ends all discussion. It becomes the argument in itself. All you have to do is to say "science!", and all discussion must cease at once. Everybody must agree with you because who can be against science? We all worship at the altar of the science gods, it would seem.

Here's another one: Racist. Boy, if you call someone that, it is the mother of all show stoppers. The worst thing in the whole wide world is to be called a racist. Boy, if you are a racist, you might as well DIE. The world comes to an end. It is a magic word du jour. You cannot beat it for the effect it has. That's why this magic word is at the top of the list of magic words.

Let keep it going. There are more of these. Here's another: "propaganda". But the effect is different. Instead of shutting up or crawling into a hole, the word ends all credibility for the words you just used. It has a type of magic as well. I can say to you that you're just repeating propaganda, and what can you say to that? Well, maybe it is true, but if you don't know any better, you are beaten. The trouble with this magic word is that it can reveal truth, or conceal it. You have to prepared to fight this magic word with some of your own magic. Except that it isn't magic. It is called THOUGHT and REASON. All magic words tend to dissolve away an honest discussion of the facts. That's why they are used.

Joe Biden used a magic word in his SOTU. It is called "freedom". That word confers great respect for any American uttering it. If you say "freedom", you might as well be KING. Anybody who says that word can rise from the level of tyrant to the level of the founding fathers. It can even make a turd smell good. That's why Joe Biden used it. He needs all the magic he can get.

Of course there is no such thing as magic. But our society is so dumbed down, that certain words have become magical. They are only magical because people no longer think. They no longer reason. They only feel. So if a magic word can make you feel better, then that is what is conjured up.

The words mentioned, like "science", have a definite meaning. "Freedom" has a definite meaning. So does "propaganda". Perhaps if someone would just ask for a definition of these words, the words may lose their magical effect of stifling thought and reason. I'd bet that those using those words couldn't answer some basic questions about the way they are being used.

Here's another word for you. "Truth". The use of the word is intended to confer respect for their mere use. But for truth to have any meaning, it must be used with sincerity. It has no magic within itself. It is how you use the words that do the job. If the job is to avoid truth, or to conceal truth; and if you allow that, then shame on you. It is the lies that can kill us all. It is what is behind the words, not the words themselves.