This will not be a popular message for some, and more than likey will rub others the wrong way. But then again, why is it unacceptable to offend some in the pursuit of speaking one's mind with truth? If we purposefully set out to appease everybody; we'll in the end appease no one.
Whenever the opportunity allows for me to examine the agenda and the actions of those on the left, I try to present them in a practical manner that is relative to our current social and political environment. With that in mind, I'm only more interested in drawing out the social implications of how the left uses politics to either move or alter societal behaviors and norms that are transformational. In this latest instance that transformation comes in the form of a decision being made by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In their infinite wisdom they have chosen to change the language and labeling of terms like -“felon,” “offender,”“convict,” and “parolee.” The objective here is to sanitize these terms by reducing them to neutral and positive descriptors. In the board's view, these traditional labels dehumanize and devalue the individual. That is a matter of opinion and however well intentioned this action on their part may seem; it is detrimental to the very fabric of social norms that demand a set standard that holds a stigma to negative behaviors as a general principle in society.
The more accepting that we become of certain negative behaviors, the more normalized and pervasive they become. This happens simply because there remains no more incentive for them to be socially governed and held to account. We eventually lose control of them by refusing to address them as they are, in lieu of how we wish to have them appear. The optics of change is not the same thing as the action of change. Placating to, and coddling negative behaviors with false compassion, only increases the likelihood that others will find comfort and refuge in the diminshing of societal standards. Being comfortable or content in one's own adverse condition does not elicit true change, nor is it necessarily conducive to pointing towards positive or progressive change. I cannot simply change your heart, your mind, or your being just by changing the classification of your societal profile and identity. If it were truly that easy, more americans would be at internal peace with themselves as opposed to perpetual war. Let me be clear here in stating that there will always be an exception to every rule; just to be fair. That being said. We are not a society or even a country that should even think to embrace the standard of success and gains by the exception of the rule. We were founded as a nation based upon the precepts of standards. Those standards are the benchmark for a very specific reason. A nation without order cannot maintain peace.
The left and democrats continue to plot this course of arbitrarily changing and softening of language for the express purpose of systematically destigmatizing behaviors in America. These behaviors require moral and ethical accountabilty to the society that they affect negatively. We've seen this done in regards to issues like (immigration and abortion) for instance. The softening of Language has only blurred the lines of both of these issues and has decimated their boundaries. The act of destigmatizing negative behavior is to remove the association of shame, guilt, and contrition from the equation. Not that it should automatically disqualify the offending party. Neither should it render them irredeemable or unfit for salvage. But instead to insure the exact opposite. Now some of you are no doubt squirming in your seat thinking about how judgmental this all sounds, but isn't judgment baked into every standard that asks of all of us to be accountable to society? Accountability merely demonstrates that we as individuals possess the ability to acknowledge something or someone greater than ourselves, that actually keeps us grounded and anchored to the standards set by a civil society. Anyone who refuses to answer to no one, will by their own actions make themselves a detriment to society as a whole for their lack of accountability. Take a long hard look at many of the adverse behaviors in America that have been stripped of their stigma. Did they make us better as a nation, or worse? I’ll let you be the judge of that.
The term “stigma” itself represents the boundary line of what we all agree upon as a society is unacceptable to the balance of the community. When that balance is negatively affected the community then seeks accountability for the offense to right what is wrong. The mark and the stain from the stigma is what brings the offense into the line of correction before the community. To this end, the offender is brought to contrition from internal guilt by acknowledging to the community that they've breached the set boundaries and standards. This process has always been, and will always be the most-effective and conducive tool for bringing real change to those who need extra support and guidance in America. It is by the emotionalism of liberal and leftist policies that now seek to strip away stigmas from the negativity of certain behaviors that should never be appeased or given comfort. Again it is not the goal of society to devalue or dehumanize those who engage in adverse behaviors by the stain of stigma. It's only for the purpose of holding them accountable so that they may be adequately reconciled back into the community through their own acknowledgment and cooperation. If we're no longer allowed to call a spade a spade, how then do we address adverse behaviors where there remains no clear distinction between right, wrong, good, or bad?✍️
-Steven C. Davis
“San Francisco has introduced new sanitized language for criminals, getting rid of words such as “offender” and “addict” while changing “convicted felon” to “justice-involved person.”
“The local officials say the new language will help change people’s views about those who commit crimes.”
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/san-francisco-board-rebrands-convicted-felon-as-justice-involved-person-sanitizes-other-ling
