That “words have consequences” is not a new idea, but it has gathered momentum of late. Maybe a better way of looking at it is to say that words are organic. They evolve, like a living thing, and affect and are affected by the environment in which they operate. Their meaning changes with usage, and it almost seems they want to gain attention by shedding plain denotation in pursuit of more colorful connotation. Sometimes the growth is poetic – a kind of metamorphosis. Lately, however, the mutations of many words in the geopolitical sphere have become worrisome.

For example, the word liberal, from the Latin liber, presents the idea of freedom. The Statue of Liberty stands as a beckon of hope – a place where people are free to have a dream and to work toward achieving it. Liberal also signifies open minds and tolerance. Today, however, half the country only understands liberal as a radical left group that wants to tear down national borders, to give power to social misfits, and to promote a justice system that issues get-out-of-jail-free cards for free.

Sanctuary is derived from the Latin sanctus, which denotes a holy or sacred place. Today in America, it is commonly used to describe large American cities that harbor illegal “aliens.” Sanctuary cities are regarded by a significant portion of the population as “hell holes,” dens of iniquity, and horrific places that breed crime.

The word progress comes from the Latin verb progredi, meaning to move forward or to advance. In everyday use, we speak of making progress as a positive thing – of getting somewhere.

In politics, for half the country today, the adjective “progressive” has somehow become synonymous with radical ideology or extremism that threatens the traditional American way of life.

The word environment (old French envirunner) is broadly used to refer to that which surrounds us – our living place, our home or natural surroundings. In the 19th it evolved to account for how we are affected by the social and psychological influences around us. The 20th century brought a deeper understanding of the environment as it relates to the ecosystem (and how we have abused it). Today, for half the population, an “environmentalist” is a gullible tree hugger at best; more likely, a purveyor of left wing propaganda that wants to destroy capitalism.

Conservative, derived from the Latin conservare, implies broadly the idea of preservation, or the saving of that which is of value. Do not waste, it would seem to suggest. Over time it took on a political hue wherein those who were conservative wanted to uphold traditional policies, to limit government control and spending, and to oppose any radical changes. It became one of the philosophical pillars of the Republican party. Today, however, that party is practically the antithesis of conservative, expanding the power of the executive branch and vastly increasing the national debt.

It works both ways. Becoming a billionaire does not automatically make a person into an oligarch. There is not a solid wall dividing Wall Street from Main Street. And being a capitalist does not preclude empathy for people in need and support for the social programs designed to help them. To be critical of aspects of Black culture, Israeli policies, or gender identification does not make you racist, anti-semitic or homophobic.

Democracy comes from the Greek Demokratia, or “people power.” People, not monarchs, have the power to rule themselves. The word Republic translates from Latin respublica to mean “public matters,” or the idea that the public must be represented in matters of the state. It seems clear that those words – republic and democracy – have very similar meanings. Together, they serve to define or qualify the greatness of America. They embody the hope that, as a collective body of citizens, we are both capable and worthy of ruling ourselves.

Today, for a significant percentage of the population, the word democracy is akin to democrat, and therefore the reason for America’s problems. And for another significant percentage of the population, the idea of a republic is essentially republican, and thereby must be about greed and oppression of the poor.

This is the language of division. It brings to the forefront the worst of human nature – ignorance, intolerance, prejudice. It is time for a leader to come forward and remind us that for our democracy/republic to endure, the people must defer to the core values put forward by the Constitution. To retain the freedoms guaranteed by that great body of laws, we must refrain from pre-judging our neighbors and accept the notion that we are more alike than different. And that we must be careful about our language lest it stir up the demons that reside in the shadows of our souls, always ready to dance to the music of chaos and dischord.

Musician, writer, house painter Pete Howard lives in Dunkirk. Send comments to odyssmusic20@gmail.com