Alinsky had a deep understanding of this and it can be seen when he writes, “By using combinations of words such as “harnessing the energy” instead of the single word “power,” we begin to dilute the meaning; and as we use purifying synonyms, we dissolve the bitterness, the anguish, the hate and love, the agony and the triumph attached to these words, leaving an aseptic imitation of life” (50). In other words, language has an effect on the issues that we choose to fight for. To produce change, you need an issue that will excite people into action and one way to excite is bold rhetoric. (Bold rhetoric does not rely upon exaggerated claims, political euphemisms, or a blatant disregard for
Alinsky had a deep understanding of this and it can be seen when he writes, “By using combinations of words such as “harnessing the energy” instead of the single word “power,” we begin to dilute the meaning; and as we use purifying synonyms, we dissolve the bitterness, the anguish, the hate and love, the agony and the triumph attached to these words, leaving an aseptic imitation of life” (50). In other words, language has an effect on the issues that we choose to fight for. To produce change, you need an issue that will excite people into action and one way to excite is bold rhetoric. (Bold rhetoric does not rely upon exaggerated claims, political euphemisms, or a blatant disregard for