Appropriation of Language

As the years go by, language changes in its use and definition. We see this no more clearly than in the gradual absorbing of the proper rules of language and grammar by the concept of common use. One word in particular that I am both amused and irritated by it's hijacking of its meaning is not really a work at all, but more of a three letter prefix that seems to be welded onto any word these section interest groups wish to taint with it usage. Those three letters are neo (no - not that insipid character from those Wachowski disappointments).

Dictionary.com has the following definition of neo.

neo-
pref.
1. New; recent: Neolithic.
2.
1. New and different: neoimpressionism.
2. New and abnormal: neoplasm.
3. New World: Neotropical.
[Greek, from neos, new. See newo- in Indo-European Roots.]

Basically it means new. However, the way you see it used today doesn't give you that impression. One of the most prominent uses I can think of for this insinuation is the word Neo-Con. Most of you have probably heard of it. It's the label the left throws at anyone to do with conservative, right of centre governments and their supporters/promoters (I'm thinking mostly of the U.S. Republicans/George W. Bush supporters, but I've also seen it extended to John Howard, the U.K.'s Conservatives and believe it or not Tony Blair - most often due to his support of the U.S.).

Calling these types of people New Conservatives is not the intent here. There is an attempt here to subconsciously link the phase Neo-Con with something sinister. It's the same with words like Neo-Liberal. Certain sections of the community, pushing a political agenda use the prefix neo to label anything they disagree with and insinuate that there might be something wrong with it.

What is this subconscious link I'm talking about? Just think about it for a minute. What's the most prominent neo-xxx word you can think of? We're all taught that they're bad people aren't we. Just think for a minute. You'll work out which group I'm talking about.

So this group are labeled neo-xxx and that means that they're bad. When you come across the next welding of the neo prefix to a word, your subconscious automatically associates that new word with the previous one, along with all it's connotations.

Think I'm off on a wild goose chase here? I'd beg to differ. One only has to look back to the previous U.S. Federal Election, where the George Soros/loony left/Moveon.org camp were throwing the word neo-con around willy-nilly. For many of this ilk just their labeling of their opponent as a Neo-Con was seen to be enough to prove their point. It's like a modern-day scarlet letter being wielded with abandon.

And besides - isn't it about time that they came up with a new epithet that more accurately described their opponents? People started being labeled Neo-Con's around the time of George W.'s first election. That's almost five years around. It's seems bloody silly to be calling a political group who've been around about half a decade "new". Then again, they are silly people who use that phrase.

And now to finish - look - a pirate kitty-kat.