. . . there seem to be no limits of logic or sanity on what a 'liberal' will maintain. The latest lunacy is the politically correct prohibition of the phrase 'as you know.' You must not say this because it might make a snowflake feel inadequate.
Permit me to explain why some of us use the phrase in question.
We use it out of civility and because we understand human nature. People don't like to be told things. If I tell you that the first ten amendments to the U. S. Constitution are called the Bill of Rights, you might think I am talking down to you or lecturing you or suggesting that you are ignorant. The prefatory 'as you know' gives you the benefit of the doubt. You either know or you don't know. If you know, he you may respond, "Of course." If you don't know, you may admit that you were ignorant of the point or you may remain silent.
'As you know' is a phrase that contributes to civil discourse. But civility is a conservative virtue and it is perhaps too much to expect a leftist to understand it or its value.
Civility demonstrated. Comity enhanced.
To feel slightly inadequate for not knowing something is not bad but good. But persuading people of this in this Age of Feeling may prove difficult. The purpose of life is not to feel good about oneself. The purpose of education is not to inculcate in students self-esteem but to teach them something so that they will have legitimate grounds for self-esteem.
The Left is destructive in many ways and on many fronts. We of the Coalition of the Sane must oppose them in many ways and on many fronts.
On the language front we must never bow to their foolish innovations but must proudly speak and write standard English.
If they take offense, then point out to them that their offense is inappropriately taken. If a black person objects to 'black hole' or 'niggardly,' then explain their meanings and how any offense taken is wrongly taken.
Say this to leftists: "You are free to speak and write in any silly way you like, but only so long as you allow us to speak and write standard English."
But leftists are a hostile and vicious bunch, unteachable and impervious to reason. So keep in mind my 2010 aphorism:
It is not reasonable to be reasonable with everyone. Some need to be met with the hard fist of unreason. The reasonable know that reason's sphere of application is not limitless.
Herein the germs of yet another argument for Second Amendment rights. Those rights are the concrete back-up to all the others.
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