“E Pluribus Unum.” Out of many, one. Our national motto, written in a dead language so the meaning wouldn’t change with the vagaries of daily use. The founders understood the necessity of correct use of language as well as those who subvert its meaning to their own selfish ends.
Words matter. Exhibit A is that improper use of pronouns led extremists to try and overthrow the government on 1/6/21. Yes, the election lies and certain politicians, as well as some media, played important roles. But I submit that pronouns were significant as well. Language is the tool of rhetoric, and rhetorical manipulations of language are the mainstay of devious politicians going as far back as Socratic Greece. George Orwell’s Politics and the English Language gave us a solid guide about how modern leaders misuse language to trick the public. George Carlin even put a humorous spin on it. Thus, examining specifics of language such as pronouns can give us insight into the thought processes of the seditionists who attacked American democracy on 1/6/21.
My primary piece of evidence is that most of the conspiracy theorists, militias, and insurrectionists used the singular pronoun “my” in many of their statements and videos. They said, “my country, my president, my house, my constitution, etc.” This narcissistic use of the singular pronoun is very revealing. They not only make the logical fallacy of believing that their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs are shared by every “patriot,” but they reject any contrary thinking as “unamerican,” “communist/ socialist”, or just plain wrong. Their manifestos are all about them and their rights. The rights of others do not enter into the equation. Their beliefs about American History or the meaning of the Constitution are correct and everybody else is wrong. Their right to go maskless, as another example of their self-centeredness, trumps anyone else’s right to not be exposed to Covid-19.
Even those who use the correct plural pronoun “our” are still misusing it. When they say, “our country, our house, our constitution,” they do not mean all Americans. They only mean Americans who agree with them. Americans who look like them. Americans who vote like them. By their own definition, anyone who disagrees with them is not a “real American.” The rioters said repeatedly that the Capital building was “our house.” Which raises the question: would they come into “our school” or “our church” and defecate and urinate in the middle of it? You can do those things in “your” residence but not in “my” house. Not in “our” mutually shared houses. It is “our Constitution” not “yours.” And it is the judiciary’s interpretation of that document that must be followed, not “your” beliefs about it.
Their narcissism and group think is reflected directly by their pronoun usage. It is a misuse of language, something January Sixth proved, that is incredibly dangerous to our democracy. Their language dictates their thought process. It separates them from other patriotic Americans who hold different views. It creates us vs them categorizing that makes violence easier. It allowed them to desecrate our capital in ways I never could have imagined. Further proof lies in the shame and regret that some of the rioters have since expressed over their actions. Better late than never I suppose.
Hopefully, the repentant rioters will remember this important language concept: It’s “We the people” not “Me the people.”
