We are at a period like the Tower of Babel. Our speech has become confused. Absent the correct knowledge of the meaning of words we can’t communicate or even think effectively. Words are to the mind what nutrients are to the body.
We have gone beyond Orwellian Doublespeak into what Mr. T use to call “Gibber Gabber.”
In today’s English Lesson we want to redeem the words country, nation, state, and government. Politicians and propaganda pushers deliberately conflate these words so you won’t know what’s really going on.
The word country refers to the physical land, the flora and fauna, the mountains, rivers and lakes. So-called conservatives claim they love their country yet support the devastation of the natural environment. You cannot love the country and love destroying it at the same time.
The word nation means the people, especially the people with a common ancestry. There can be country without nation or nation without country. In many European countries, Gypsies are a nation without a country (land). In the United States, Blacks and Indian tribes are nations without country.
Two or more nations can occupy the same country. The Kurds and the Arabs both occupy Iraq, for example.
The word state refers to the systems and institutions used and created to control, conduct business, enforce laws, provide for needs, seize property (taxes) among the nation(s) which occupy the country over which the state claims rule.
The government refers to the people who make decisions for the operation of the state. This includes secret government people such as lobbyists, corporations, banks and associations like medical and legal associations whose opinions get enforced by the apparati of the State.
The next time you hear newscasters and politicians misusing these words, call them on it.