If you've been reading the blog, then you'll know "intellectual" is my latest buzz word to watch. Everybody seems to be using it with extra zeal these days.
Here's a bit from Politico:
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel charged Sunday that conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh is “the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party.”
I've probably used the word more than a few times in my life, but starting last year it occurred to me that it's the most meaningless word in the language. Take Emanuel's use of it: "intellectual force." What can that possibly mean? Since "intellectuals" are supposed to be smarter than the rest of us, then Emanuel must mean that Limbaugh is the driving force behind the GOP's "intellect," or "intelligence." To hear Emanuel tell it, Limbaugh is somehow raising the IQ of his listeners whenever he opens his mouth.
Limbaugh as schoolteacher? Hardly. What Emanuel meant to say was "ideological force" or perhaps "philosophical force." But, being a goof, he used "intellectual" instead, thinking it's the same thing.
My firm belief: anyone who uses the word "intellectual" is a sap.
No comments:
Post a Comment