inkbluesky

Remember the recent, but quickly forgotten scandal over the rogues gallery of broadcast media military analysts/pundits that were giving America unbiased insights into Iraq and the infamous “war on terror”. SourceWatch is compiling a database of various pundits and their affiliations, Cracking the Pentagon Pundit Code

Melanie in this case is Melanie Morgan, a conservative columnist, former San Francisco talk show host and the head of Move America Forward (MAF). MAF describes itself as a non-partisan pro-troop organization, but since its founding in 2004, it’s been an enthusiastic cheerleader for the “war on terror” and other Bush administration policies. That’s not surprising, as the group was co-founded by, and continues to receive significant support from, the Republican-linked public relations firm Russo Marsh & Rogers. Indeed, some of MAF’s most reviled targets have been Democrats; they’ve called Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi a “domestic enemy” and the 2004 Democratic National Convention “a ‘Blame America First’ pep rally.”

Besides Move America Forward there was an astroturf political outfit called America Supports You. If you’re in advertising, public relations or have some military psych-ops experience you know the power that words have. Especially when repeated over and over again in a way that reinforces appeals to national pride and fear.

relief

I don’t have as much of a problem with going forward as I do with constantly turning everything into a simile with the word like, but going forward is working its way up on my list. I don’t write well enough to have the nerve to be a language snob, but I do get this writer’s point, Are you going forward? Then stop now

For the last few months I’ve been on a mission to rid the world of the phrase “going forward”. But now I see that the way forward is to admit defeat. This most horrid phrase is with us on a go-forward basis, like it or not.

I reached this sad conclusion early one morning a couple of weeks ago when listening to Farming Today. A man from the National Farmers’ Union was talking about matters down on the farm and he uttered three “going forwards” in 28 seconds.

Probably not much consolation to the over used turn of phrase police, but at this juncture seems to have fallen out of favor. I keep waiting for a proper study to site about several issues. One is to support my suspicion that business speak is a large contributing factor to our deteriorating national mental health in addition to alcohol abuse,

It’s not only when you’re trying to impress nine million viewers on national TV. Even to get a humble job in a call centre passion is required. One of the big banks is currently advertising for such workers saying “we seek passionate banking representatives to uphold our values.” This is a lie. Actually what the bank is seeking is competent people to follow instructions and answer the phones.

If you’re one of those few lucky people that really enjoy your work maybe you approach being passionate, but you’re not. Liking your work is quite enough. Artificially upping the degree of like to the point of sounding like a cult member with a hand full of leaflets is just irritating.