Yesterday, I wrote about Rutger’s efforts to eliminate grammar from English language studies, providing a couple of examples of how that might go askew:
“[Writing] “Protest, shootings, and arson,” rather than “Protest shootings and arson,” might pass in an Applied Critical Theory class where there is only one possible meaning…”
“A Masters (A word on the way out, and I don’t think we can use “He da man,” either.) in English is now a purely political credential.”
There is a long and growing list of words which are being assigned purely political application. One must be cautious in finding alternatives.
Here’s someone who wasn’t:
Why I decided to take the word ‘chief’ out of my CEO title to respect Indigenous people
Catherine Roome, the former CEO in question, is now is president and lead executive officer of Technical Safety BC.
I fear she didn’t take enough time to think this change through, even as a team formerly known as the Redskins provided an example of careful consideration by relabelling themselves as the Washington Football Team while working their way through the critical race linguistic minefield.
Ms. Roome’s new title of Lead Executive Officer has a couple of problems. First, the very concept of leadership presumes merit-based anti-egalitarianism. Second, and most damning, LEO is also a widely used acronym for Law Enforcement Officer.
Since we are allowed only one political meaning per term, I’d say law enforcement officer wins on seniority.
Now. On to “executive.”
One who can make significant decisions on their own authority. A position that coordinates and governs the action of others; supervisor
And “officer.”
One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations. A respectful term of address for an officer, especially a police officer.
These words would seem of limited use in our new woke world, and subject to banning at any moment.
One might think congratulations are due future holders of Rutgers English degrees for having improved job prospects as English Sanitation Clerks, except they will never have heard the words they’re trying to sanitize.
Hershblogger, A mutual friend of ours, M.A.C. said I should read your post. I have poor grammar skills, (much better having written a book), but I understand the importance of grammar; the importance of learning to write properly, to speak properly. Our present culture, which is germinating in our universities, is to ignore or avoid excellence. Sadly, our present culture is destroying our college students.
On a more light-hearted note, I too am a LEO – a member of the U/M Learning Education Organization. (I would say I am a TA, Teaching Assistant, but apparently the U/M has deputized me.)
Thanks for stopping by. There’s more than you want to read under my academiots tag, if you get bored sometime. ;)