I have a thing about dishonest names. They really bug me. Some examples of dishonest names include:
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (AKA, North Korea)
- The Patriot Act
- And the worst one of all, Turkey Bacon.
All of these names want you to believe something that isn't true.
While reading the news today I came across another such phrase. France has just opened a military base in the United Arab Emirates. They are calling it a "Peace Camp." (Read here) Peace Camp?! (Eyes roll)
I have no problem with the idea of operating military bases in other countries, but why try to maintain a facade? Actions like this seem to me to be a lightning rod for cynical commentary. They're really not fooling anyone.
Are you claiming that Turkey Bacon is an Orwellian term? Since these terms aren't fooling anyone, why do you suppose they keep popping up?
ReplyDeleteThat's great the first paragraph says,
ReplyDelete"the facility will strengthen efforts to battle piracy "
And the name "Peace Camp" in the next sentence.
A little cut and paste "...[Peace Camp] will strengthen efforts to battle..."
I guess the point is that whole irony thing that the only way to establish peace is to prepare for war.
I'm currently reading a book about Japan in the wake of WWII. When the Japanese Parliament, the Diet, was debating whether or not to include a self-defense provision in their pacifist constitution it was argued that all the destruction that Japan had caused, from the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 to the end of the war, was done in the name of self-defense.
ReplyDeleteThough somewhat changed by the Diet, the bulk of the Japanese constitution was written in six days by a couple dozen, mostly young American military officers. That doesn't have much to do with 'What's in a name,' but I find it fascinating nonetheless.