Comments on: Speaking of Oxymorons http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2004/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/ Sci-fi, comics, humor, photos...it's all fair game. Wed, 23 May 2012 18:19:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Katie http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2004/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/#comment-522 Katie Sun, 12 Sep 2004 20:06:30 +0000 http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/archives/2004/09/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/#comment-522 I agree that the names are stupid. As far as elections go, though, if you're born into the system, it's not as hard to differentiate. Either you grow up equating one with evil and the other with all that's good and precious; or you learn through family, acquaintances, news reports, and/or school activities--often slowly, every four years--what the basic policies are. I remember being confused as a kid about how we have a party <i>not</i> called the Democrats when we live in a democracy. I'm very glad that I didn't have to figure out what "Whig" meant. And the phenomenon of naming groups contrary to their actual aims is about the same combination of amusing and annoying as giving restaurants and food services names like "Gourmet Café"--if you have to say it, you probably don't live up to it. I mean, who'd eat at a place called "Only 3 Roaches per Salad," or support an organization called "Blatant Disregard for Women's Health?" I agree that the names are stupid. As far as elections go, though, if you’re born into the system, it’s not as hard to differentiate. Either you grow up equating one with evil and the other with all that’s good and precious; or you learn through family, acquaintances, news reports, and/or school activities–often slowly, every four years–what the basic policies are. I remember being confused as a kid about how we have a party not called the Democrats when we live in a democracy. I’m very glad that I didn’t have to figure out what “Whig” meant.

And the phenomenon of naming groups contrary to their actual aims is about the same combination of amusing and annoying as giving restaurants and food services names like “Gourmet Café”–if you have to say it, you probably don’t live up to it. I mean, who’d eat at a place called “Only 3 Roaches per Salad,” or support an organization called “Blatant Disregard for Women’s Health?”

]]> By: Kizi http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2004/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/#comment-521 Kizi Sun, 12 Sep 2004 18:42:57 +0000 http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/archives/2004/09/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/#comment-521 And your parties are called Republicans and Democrats! What do they tell you about anyone's policies? And your parties are called Republicans and Democrats! What do they tell you about anyone’s policies?

]]> By: Kizi http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2004/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/#comment-519 Kizi Sat, 11 Sep 2004 17:36:15 +0000 http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/archives/2004/09/09/speaking-of-oxymorons/#comment-519 Yes, but in the USA, a lot of groups calling themselves stuff like "Freedom" or "Choice and Democracy" or "Christian Love" mean anything but. Then again, most racist parties in Britain call themselves stuff like "National Unity" Yes, but in the USA, a lot of groups calling themselves stuff like “Freedom” or “Choice and Democracy” or “Christian Love” mean anything but.

Then again, most racist parties in Britain call themselves stuff like “National Unity”

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