The "Lock and Load" Rhetoric of American Politics Isn't Just a Metaphor

[bemildred]

I'm not saying that putting a bullseye on Arizona Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' congressional race - as Sarah Palin did - was an explicit or intentional invitation to violence. Nor am I saying that the "Get on Target for Victory" events held by the guy Giffords beat - "Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly" - was the reason her assassin went after her. This tragedy is still unfolding, and the questions of motive and incitement will be argued about for a long time to come.

But I am saying that the "lock and load"/"take up your arms" rhetoric of American politics isn't just an overheated metaphor. For years, the language of sports has dominated political journalism, and discourse about hardball and the horserace and the rest of the macho athletic lexicon has been a factor in the trivialization of our public sphere. This has helped dumb down democracy, making a serious national discussion about anything important too wonky for words.

The "second amendment solution," though, does something worse than make politics a branch of entertainment. It makes it a blood sport. I know politics ain't beanbag. But words have consequences, rhetoric shapes reality, and much as we like to believe that we are creatures of reason, there is something about our species' limbic system and lizard brainstems that makes us susceptible to irrational fantasies.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/gabrielle-giffords-shooting_b_806232.html

I just want to add that US politics is littered with these sorts of political killings, all the way back as far as you care to go. And I look forward to the coming civil lawsuits against the media trolls and their bosses.

[Lifelong Protester]

1. I'm tired of that rhetoric suddenly being accepted in politics.

What's next to be used as an "euphemism" for defeating your opponent? Rape? Beheading?

I was not happy when one day I went in to my staff lounge on a Friday (spirit day at school) to see most everyone wearing T-shirts sporting the words "We don't rebuild, we reload" in support of the football team. Poor taste, in my mind. I am all for supporting the school team, I argue with no one's right to own firearms, but why do we now think we can mix in a deadly force with politics and high school sports?

[The Second Stone]

2. I'm not a gun guy

but shouldn't you load before you lock?

[bemildred]

3. lock and load

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lock_and_load