Language, Climate, and Big Brother

"Man acts as though he were the shaper and master of language, while in fact language remains the master of man."
Martin Heidegger

I have long believed that language is among the most powerful of human inventions. As I often aver to friends, Mao was just plain wrong with his famous "Power comes from the barrel of a gun." The truth is, power comes from the ability to convince idiots and others to pick up that gun and shoot people on your behalf. That said, my real point here is not that eloquent speech can persuade - though clearly it can - but that the adoption of particular words in particular contexts gives rise to unconscious prejudices that can be almost unshakable and can color, or, shall I say, distort, one's ability to think objectively and critically.

Consider, for example, homosexuality. These days various states and countries enact or debate about laws regarding same-sex marriage and adoption of children by homosexuals and other contentious sexual orientation related issues. How far have we come (thankfully) in the last half century from the days when homosexuals most frequently were secretive (of necessity) and viewed as either evil, humorous, pathological, creepy or, benignly, quaint. Though homophobia has by no means disappeared it has certainly become less widespread and almost universally regarded as bigotry or at least distasteful bad form. Increased liberalism and education generally account for this change in most people's view, I imagine. To me though, this entire shift in consciousness is an inverted pyramid balanced on a single point: the introduction and successful selling of the word "gay". Before this word (with it's current meaning) entered the language via brilliantly executed PR campaigns we had, at best, "homosexual" and, more commonly, "faggot", "queer" and all the others. It's hard to hate someone "gay". Without the underlying universal acceptance of the word "gay", it would be impossible to call a television show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" - or to produce it in the first place. Replace a pejorative with a euphemism and you can change the world.

So, to my more current point. We are, I am convinced, right on the cusp of a paradigm shift in human behaviour and it would seem to be predicated less on what has become hotly debated science and more on the co-opting of the language with which the debate is waged. Ask yourself - when was the last time you heard the phrase "global warming"? If you are an average person consuming an average amount of television, print media and the net, I'd wager it was at least two or three months ago. How could that be? Until recently the phrase was inescapable a dozen times a day. Well, clearly the subject has not disappeared - only that specific set of two words. What has happened? They have, overnight, been replaced with "climate change".

When I pointed this out to one learned friend his response was "Well, really, the ONLY reason for the change is that "global warming" gives people the wrong impression." To which another replied "Funny how people get confused when you tell them that it's getting warmer and they notice it getting colder." Fear not, I am not about to get into a pro or con rant on the subject of Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW), but there is no denying that this sudden shift of language coincided with the release of stats showing that predicted temperature increases had not, over a ten year period, materialized. What I am interested in here is the words used in discussion of a subject that, in one way or another, will forever change how humans live on Earth.

One thing I think all can agree on is that the carbon-driven warming scare is the foundation for numerous and profound legal, economic and social changes - some already implemented and some pending. Extremists would have us go back to the Pleistocene and moderates think we must each, at a minimum, become aware of our personal "carbon footprints" and change our way of living. New taxes, regulations, energy and fiscal policies are all on the books or in the wings. Nobody on earth will go unaffected by what the powers that be have in store for us. We will all, in one way or another, be made poorer and less self-determined by what's ahead.

These are heady and potentially dangerous measures we face, but many people are on the bandwagon: The politicians for the increased power and control it gives them. The scientists (some, not all, of them) for the increased funding. The investors (a la Al Gore) who stand to make billions if only they can get the right laws passed.  The media, which hates "everything is okay" as a headline. But how can these omnibus climate/energy laws be sold on the basis of increased carbon causing rising temperatures and ultimately a doomsday "tipping point" after which New Yorkers will be up to their necks in sea bass and jellyfish if the science - the temperature records - tells the damned public it isn't happening? A tough sell if ever there was one. The solution: Change the language.

Substituting "climate change" for "global warming" is like substituting "weather" for "typhoon" or "bodily health" for "cancer". The latter are things against which one might take precautions or concoct treatment. The former are simply reality. This simple change of wording - this segue - is as insidious as it is powerful.  Speak of "global warming" and you are referring to a subject debatable in two ways: 1. is it happening, and 2. what is the cause. "Climate change" however cannot be debated. The climate changes. Period. And, more importantly, with the wording change the cause - human activity - is now a given, not a question. What was, under the rubric "global warming", a question to be answered, is now, as "climate change", a premise.

By eliminating the pesky and uncooperative "global warming" from the debate and slipping in "climate change" in its stead, the zealots have won the day. No matter what happens with temperatures and sea levels and glaciers or whatever - up, down, sideways - it will all be seen as evidence of or augury of "climate change". And, after all, "climate change" = "bad" = "you are to blame". But not to worry. Big Brother has it under control. Just drink this Kool Aid.

Words words words. Can't live with 'em… can't shoot the politicians and media wonks.