Are we living at a time in which politicians – American and non-American alike – need to choose their words more carefully? For Russia’s Gazeta newspaper, columnist Semen Novoprudski writes of the dangers of fast-and-loose political rhetoric, and why, for the good of the world at large, all politicians, instead of using divisive Cold-War language, should from now on ‘speak exclusively about partnerships in the common cause of developing and preserving the human race.’
For Gazeta, Semen Novoprudski writes in small part:
The inadequate Russian response to a statement about America’s enemies by Republican Party presidential favorite Mitt Romney is the perfect time to discuss the politics of language.
Most Russians found it flattering that during an interview, Romney, the most moderate Republican candidate for president, called our country America’s “geopolitical enemy number one.” But the reaction to this naked flattery of the Russian government – (since it is an obvious exaggeration) – a government that seeks to plant a militaristic and imperial consciousness in the country’s collective mind and persistently attempts to convince the population that we are once again “cool” and have an impact on global affairs – verged on the hysterical.
Journalist Alexey Pushkov, who rose all the way up to become chairman of the Duma’s International Affairs Committee, even uttered the phrase “American hegemony,” which I last heard on the state TV show Time about thirty years ago. Current President Dmitry Medvedev felt that Romney’s words “smelled of Hollywood” and the 1970s, when, by the way, the Cold War was already winding down. Meanwhile, even Medvedev, not to mention Putin and lower-bore Russian politicians, constantly issue statements on America and the West that are far more aggressive than the language used by Mr. Romney. These are statements entirely reminiscent of the pre-Perestroika, Soviet times.
A change in the language of politics, as well as a gradual shift in emphasis from competition to cooperation – is vitally important to the survival of humankind. Of course, the masses love a “salty word,” and politicians, particularly in the heat of an election campaign, want to demonstrate their capacity for brutality. But attempts to write off such excesses as just election foibles and the need to be liked within the country are unfounded.
Politics is a profession in which one should choose words especially carefully.
READ ON IN ENGLISH OR RUSSIAN AT WORLDMEETS.US, your most trusted translator and aggregator of foreign news and views about our nation.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US