a new story, a new word

make way for light

“One lies to another…  They say, ‘By our tongues we shall prevail.  With words as our ally, who can master us?’”

With words as our ally.  What a delicious phrase used by the psalmist (Ps 12:2a, 4, Revised English Bible).  In another translation, it reads “our weapon is our lips.”  In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith makes the statement, “Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four.  If that is granted all else will follow.”  By the way, I read his book in 1983.  I wanted to be sure I read it before the year arrived!

The Orwellian concept of language focuses on Newspeak, in which the government deliberately reduces words and the ability to express freedom of thought.  For example, “bad” becomes “ungood.”  “Very good” becomes “plusgood,” and “wonderful” becomes “doubleplusgood.”  Language becomes narrowed, as does awareness, even the ability to conceive.

Would it be a surprise to know—to be “aware”—that we employ our own forms of Newspeak?  Of course in our case, the goal isn’t deletion of language but the deletion of trust.  That includes deletion of trust in definitions of words.

Once upon a time, a “vaccine” prevented, or almost certainly prevented, one from obtaining a disease and being able to spread it to others.  Sadly, that is no longer the case.  The word “appropriate” seems to have lost its contours.  Case in point would be drag queen shows held in schools, even elementary schools, being called appropriate.

With words as our ally.  Our weapon is our lips.

Moreso than any other, it is government who uses words to redefine the truth.  “The first casualty of war is the truth.”  So said the ancient Greek poet, Aeschylus.

Karen Hunt comments, “It’s worse than that.  Truth has become the first casualty of everyday life.  The elites have manipulated, discredited, and denied the truth so convincingly that it has all but disappeared.”

In a speech at Texas A&M University, a recent CIA director “jokingly asked his audience, ‘What’s the cadet motto of West Point?  You will not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do…  ‘We lied, we cheated, we stole,’ he continued, laughing as if he thought that was very funny and clever.  And the brainwashed audience laughed along with him.”  He then added, “It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment.”

I honestly don’t know what that last remark is about.  Surely it doesn’t mean he believes deception is glorious?  Or does he believe it epitomizes America?  Oh, heaven forfend! (Maybe there is some context to explain his comments.)

We lied.  We cheated.  We stole.

But take care: there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even though it might not seem like it at times.

Holy Week will soon be upon us, and we can view it through many different prisms.  Language and truth figure prominently.

On Palm Sunday, the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, crowds are spreading palm branches and shouting acclaim to him.  Jesus doesn’t call for rebellion against Rome, so cheers eventually turn to jeers.  (Maybe the stuff about loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you didn’t really sink in—although desperation has its own mode of expression.)

Spy Wednesday recalls Judas’ agreement with the chief priests to betray Jesus.  The deception, the twisting of truth, is executed with a kiss of lies.

On the evening of Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, Peter says he will never deny Jesus.  That is, he will never deny being part of his group, his “gang of terrorists,” for fear of the consequences.  However, within a few hours, after Jesus is arrested, he swears up and down he has no idea who this false prophet is.

On Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ execution, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate is questioning Jesus regarding the charges against him.  Jesus alleges that those of the truth hear him.  Pilate, with a question having many levels of meaning asks, “What is truth?”  Aeschylus and Orwell nod.

Holy Saturday is the silence of the grave.

Now, some good news—indeed the good news.

There is Easter Sunday.  We ask ourselves, “Have we become used to the same tired old stories?  The deceptive manipulation of language?”  One lies to another.  With words as our ally.  Newspeak.  Is there no hunger for a new word?

There is a word which liberates.  It is the word—the word permeating the cosmos.  It is the word with all power.  It is the living word.  It is the word that defeats death, Jesus the Christ.  It is the word rising from the dead and letting us know that in the end, nothing has truly been wasted.

“In the beginning was the Word…”