The War on Reality
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Sadhika Pant
 November 13 2023
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    “If we get to choose our pronouns, why can’t I choose my adjectives? I demand to be called mighty and wonderful. And if you don’t comply, you’re prejudiced.” How long before people begin to demand such changes next?

    If the sanctity of language breaks down for individual whims, some of the greatest advances of civilised society, such as marriage certificates, country constitutions, peace treaties, employee contracts, will break down. It will be the end of dialogue as we know it.

    Peace was never the default state of man’s societies. It was negotiated, often after long periods of war and violence. The stability (relative) of our times is hard-won. And by no means, is it irrevocable. The pages of history are bespattered with blood, and the good times of today are erected upon the corpses of lives lost in the process of reaching where we stand today. Are we so accustomed to it that we take it for granted and hack away at the very foundations that made this peace possible? Or do we knowingly seek chaos because we’ve had too much of order?

    Indeed, so much is dependent on words that it escapes our notice. Our economic, legal and sociocultural systems work the way they do, because the meanings of the words do not change too quickly or too drastically. It is the reason why constitution amendments require a long-drawn out procedure, and why refusing to read a document before signing it is frowned upon. 

    On a more individual level, we use language to describe the world. If the meanings of words change too fast or too much, how do we describe reality? Will not reality change too much or too fast too? Has it begun happening already? Are we to be caught between competing narratives, a tussle in which actual reality is soon to be lost, or worse, unrecognisable? 

    Negotiation (through words) is humanity’s greatest achievement, at par with the invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire. This is because of its ability to prevent or stop violence. It is an invaluable tool that enables people who are as diverse as they can be, to cooperate and work on an agreed-upon goal for an agreed-upon time. We throw it out of the window like last night’s leftovers.

    An attack upon language is an attack upon thought. Since thought shapes identity, it is an attack upon identity itself. Your individual identity is under attack. Not only will words soon be put in your mouth, but a new voice will soon be put in your head too. Some ideas will become inexpressible, some unthinkable.  If it hasn’t reached you yet, it will. Speak, if you can, until you can. Be not fooled by those who want to “fix” you, even when, especially when, they assume the moral high ground. This war will bring no spoils, for any of us. If this sounds like doomsday discourse, know that this doom is upon us, and the day is today. 

    language ideas identity political correctness philosophy order chaos negotiation culture politics pronouns society peace morality
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