Dakota Beacon

The Passing Scene dedicates this piece to some of a younger generation short on wisdom who are perpetually offended by imaginary transgressions in the name of the “social justice” fairytale.

In George Orwell’s classic “1984,” the inhabitants of Oceania were encouraged to adopt Newspeak, a language inhibiting speaking, writing, and thought opposed to the ruling dictate.

In the US, some favor WokeSpeak while others reject it. To the Right, WokeSpeak endeavors to control people's thoughts and actions. If you don't conform to WokeSpeak, you will be canceled. On the other hand, Liberals see "Wokeness" as a good thing. It enhances your "wakefulness" to so-called “social injustice” all around. Try a few.

--Anti-racism. A completely meaningless term. Following the Civil Rights era of the 1960s who now exhibits pro-racism? In WokeSpeak “anti-” adjectives denote opposition to something that no one claims to be for. Declare that you are working for “anti-racism” then anyone who disagrees must be racist, or at least, “pro-racist.”

--Cultural appropriation. A dictionary defines this term as people from one culture borrowing from another culture. This would be incorrect. The crime occurs with appropriation by a victimizing majority from a victimized minority. Only a trained cultural appropriationist can determine the offense. For non-African Americans, dreadlocks or playing jazz is cultural appropriation. Dying dark hair blond is not. Wearing a poncho, if one is a non-Mexican-American citizen, is cultural theft. A Mexican-American wearing a tuxedo is not. Cultural appropriation only happens when an oppressor group borrows from a victim group and never the other way around. Those are the rules.

--Diversity. The old white/black binary previously known as “affirmative action” that presumed the necessity for preferential treatment to redress grievances African Americans. It justifies the manipulation of the number of blacks, women, or gays in desirable positions out of all proportion to their numbers in the general population. Used in corporate, professional, and academic administrative titles, to virtue signal as in dean, director, or provost of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” The more women, people of color, and LGBTQ members on a corporate boards, for example, the better although no-one really knows why.

--Equity. This word intentionally misrepresents the word “equality” thereby scamming the reader. It’s like Greens selling themselves as environmentalists. Equality means treating everyone the same from the beginning. But not everyone may end up at the same destination. WokeSpeak regards this as unfair. Equity means treating everyone differently by penalizing some and rewarding others. It enforces conformity of behavior making certain everyone ends up in the same place regardless of effort. This is fair.

--Hate speech. Any speech that members of the Left hate. (See violent speech.)

--Intersectionality. Race, class, and gender “intersect” with one another in shared victimhood. Oppressed communities often overlap and therefore amplify shared grievances. Intersectionality replaced the term “rainbow coalition.” The more shared victimizations, the higher the ranking one enjoys within the intersectional community.

--LGBTQ. This widely used moniker designates the tiny decadent sexual communities in all their colors. It connotes the idea that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered, and queer people all exist in one happy, united, playful rainbow family. Differing from the large population of heterosexuals who are miserable.

--Micro-aggression. A magical phrase employed to turn an insignificant race or gender-based partiality into a hanging offence. A facial expression or momentary pause in conversation can betray one as a racist or male supremacist. Those who are able to find offence everywhere usually do.

--Class. An outdated term seldom heard in WokeSpeak. Billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and George Soros are no longer enemies of the people. But White, underprivileged deplorables across America certainly are. Oprah and Michelle Obama are the new victims.

--Safe space. Best described as official “no-go zones” for white heterosexual males. These segregated enclaves offer sanctuary against “systemic racism.” But, contradiction of contradictions, labeling them as “segregated spaces” is proof of systemic racism!

--Systemic racism. This term purportedly describes racism so deeply entrenched that actual examples are difficult to find. Systemic racism requires Leftists to dismantle everything and to rebuild a society in which every institution is biased toward non-Whites, thus replacing so-called systemic racism with actual racism.

--Unearned White privilege. As opposed to mere “White privilege.” “Unearned” is an add-on confession by White people holding coveted administrative and professional positions who wish to do penance for their high salaries, titles, and influence.

--Violent Speech. Any speech, or action, that causes the Left to become violent.

           Americans need wisdom. Victimhood is key to the Left’s false narrative. They push victimhood envisioning a world of oppressed and oppressors. Why? To create a nation where all the “oppressed” vote the Left into power joined by some weak “oppressors” (straight white males willing to grovel and beg forgiveness for being white).

What to do about the intrusion of WokeSpeak? Be kind responding with satire and comedy. Gently ridicule with a laugh. Portray WokeSpeak as the farce that it is. And remember, the pen and the internet video are mightier than the sword. English is too rich a language to cavalierly pollute.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).