The word "rhetoric"

[silverlib]

In light of the use of the word rhetoric used in the subject lines of the first two articles on the DU homepage, I decided to look up the word.

American Heritage Dictionary has three definitions, the order of which I find disturbing.

1. a. The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively.
b. A treatise or book discussing this art.
2. Skill in using language effectively and persuasively.
3. a. A style of speaking or writing, especially the language of a particular subject: fiery political rhetoric.
b. Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous: His offers of compromise were mere rhetoric.

So, first and foremost, the word is certainly not misused in the topic. It is, however, amazing and disappointing that we have to go to the third definition, and to “b” to find the definition that fits the topic.

Thus I went to a thesaurus (Roget’s New Millennium)and found the synonyms that I can use instead of the word “rhetoric.” I found some of these to be much more amicable. Of course, I had to dig for these among synonyms such as “eloquence” and “articulation.” I will now substitute the word(s) below each time I read/write the word “rhetoric” in referring to right wing oratory.

Hot air
Balderdash
Propaganda
Empty Words
Bull session

Just to make sure there is no doubt as to what I am trying to convey.

[Taxloss]

1. Rhetoric has something of a bad name.

It used to be one of the humanities, the liberal arts, up there with logic - lessons in expressin arguments effectively. Now it has come full circle to mean hot air, sound and fury signifying nothing. The Classical rhetoricians would be most upset. O tempora, o mores!

[Lexingtonian]

2. the word 'rhetoric'

has itself become 'rhetoric'. Note how it's only Republicans who (speaker and audience) obviously don't know the proper meaning of the term who use it as a synonym for a load of bullshit.

[pat_k]

3. Malarkey, Clap Trap, Hogwash -- or my favorite "Fascist Fantasies"

[orpupilofnature57]

4. Bla Bla Bla , White Noise!