The First Annual Karl Rove Euphemasia Challenge
sirpaulsbuddy and I decided tonight to sponsor a new competition. The task is simple enough – we’re looking for new neo-con euphemisms. Entrants are asked to take a word or term that is thoroughly negative in connotation (examples would include things like “poverty,” “rape,” “quadriplegic,” “murder,” “ignorant,” etc.) and develop a new term that neutralizes the negative connotation or, even better, spins the term into something that’s actually good. For instance, turning “global warming” into “climate change” would be a case of neutralization. Somehow managing to turn “marauding band of mass murdering thugs” into “Freedom Fighters,” as Reagan’s folks did back in the ’80s, that’s a class A case of accentuating the positive.
Post your entries to the comment thread, and we’ll eventually name a winner. We don’t have any money to offer as a reward, but the best entrants will certainly be bestowed with a great deal of cultural capital, which they are then free to spend as they see fit.
[Related: euphemasia]
lullaby pit 
Global Warming = Climate Change = Expanded Growing Season = Ice Age Compensation (or Prevention, ha ha)… or how about “The Trend Toward Milder Winters”…
Global Warming = Climate Change = Expanded Growing Season = Ice Age Compensation (or Prevention, ha ha)… or how about “The Trend Toward Milder Winters”…
Here’s one they’ve already managed to pull off… “Fuck The Poor!
” –> “Ownership Society” (ie, THEY own US and OUR LABOR).
Those motherfuckers. The revolution can’t come soon enough.
Here’s one they’ve already managed to pull off… “Fuck The Poor!
” –> “Ownership Society” (ie, THEY own US and OUR LABOR).
Those motherfuckers. The revolution can’t come soon enough.
Resort Opportunity Expansion.
Resort Opportunity Expansion.
Heh.. ah, you mean the funniest ones, not the ones they’re most likely to use, eh…
Heh.. ah, you mean the funniest ones, not the ones they’re most likely to use, eh…
Killing most of the world’s species = “aggressive humanitarianism”
Killing most of the world’s species = “aggressive humanitarianism”
Destroying our freedoms and Constitution = “Patriotism”
Destroying our freedoms and Constitution = “Patriotism”
Poverty? No, that’s too negative. How about “uncluttered lifestyles”? Or reverse it; the gap between rich and poor is “Incentives For Upward Mobility”.
Poverty? No, that’s too negative. How about “uncluttered lifestyles”? Or reverse it; the gap between rich and poor is “Incentives For Upward Mobility”.
Xenophobia = protecting our nation’s borders
Xenophobia = protecting our nation’s borders
Oh, and of course,
Corporate Fascism = “Compassionate Conservatism”
Oh, and of course,
Corporate Fascism = “Compassionate Conservatism”
Either way. Some of the ones they use would be pretty funny if they weren’t serious.
Either way. Some of the ones they use would be pretty funny if they weren’t serious.
I like that – it’s all about opportunity.
I like that – it’s all about opportunity.