7 Words Raped of Their Meaning

I love words. As a writer, I love choosing my words with thoughtfulness. The words you use--especially when writing--gives readers a glimpse of your soul. Reading what you have written is a sort of mirror where you, the writer, can see how you think. If what you write is easily understood, you likely think clearly. If it is confusing, well, maybe you need to organize your thoughts better. Maybe you need to think better.

Words we use--both in speech and writing--say much more about us sometimes than the subject our words are aimed at. Because words tell us about the writer or speaker, we should pick every word carefully and with much thought. Unfortunately not everyone uses words thoughtfully and certain words in English have been raped--yes, raped--of their meaning. Here are some words that have been misused to the point where they no longer carry the weight they should:

7. Sexist - If you think that women and men are different, guess what? According to academia and many folks on the Left side of the spectrum, you're a sexist. It's a pretty dishonest attack since anyone who thinks clearly knows that women and men are different.

6. Xenophobe - Think that the U.S. should crack down on illegal immigrants? According to the Left, you're an xenophobe. But it backfires and true xemophobes are lumped in with people who just want laws obeyed and enforced. And believe me, there are true xenophobes out there.

5. Rape - There are women who perpetuate the idea that if sex is uncomfortable or you regret it afterwards, it's rape. When women who claim rape under those conditions are revealed as frauds to the public, rape loses it's meaning: It isn't taken as seriously as it should be.

4. Holocaust - When someone uses the word holocaust, it should only be used when describing the Holocaust (the murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany) or a similar event like the genocide in Sudan. When U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson, a Florida Democrat, compares what he sees as a health care crisis to a holocaust, he devalues the word holocaust. If the word holocaust can be thrown around when posturing for political reasons, it will not carry the weight it once had. Grayson, a Jew, should know better but he isn't the only perpetrator. The radical animal rights organization known as PETA had an ad campaign a couple years back called "Holocaust On Your Plate" comparing the killing of chickens for food to the murder of six million Jews. The ad even showed concentration camp prisoners side by side with fried chicken. Some folks just aren't going to take the word holocaust as seriously after that.

3. Homophobe - Like racist, homophobe is a mainstay of leftist vocabulary used to shut down opponents of left-wing policies. Hey, once they call you a homophobe, who's going to take you seriously? However, the opposite is happening. Homophobe carries virtually no weight among conservatives and moderates anymore because the Left throws it at everyone they disagree with. It is unfortunate what the Left has done because homophobes exist and the word should only be reserved for them.

2. Bigot - Everyone's a bigot when you're on the Left. The word has been devalued. I'm a bigot, you're a bigot, don'tcha wanna be a bigot, too?

1. Racist - The word has been misused for decades and hardly carries the weight it should have. And blame those who misuse it most: The left-wingers of American politics. Disagree with a welfare bill? You're a racist. Oppose affirmative action? You're a racist? Vote Republican? You're a racist! It has become worse since President Obama took the oath of office. Now Obama's defenders and advocates calls anyone who opposes the president's policies a racist. It's sick. The word doesn't mean anything anymore. Racism exists but when the Left accuses everyone who disagrees with them as racists, what does the word mean anymore?