This is my first diary, long time reader, occasional commenter but of all the issues discussed here, this one REALLY BUGS ME. And if you're a Democrat/Liberal/Progressive it should you too.
I originally posted this as a comment on another diary. I hope re-posting as a diary will encourage further discussion and education.
You know what bugs me?
When Democratic rank and file unconciously adopt the language of marginalization, that bugs me.
As surely as the wingnut agitprop machine dedicated itself into converting "Liberal" into a pejorative, they went to work on turning the adjective "Democratic" into "Democrat", and they have done it for no other reason than "Democratic" has a positive connotation while "Democrat Party", "That Democrat politician", "The Democrat Leader, Senator, Congressman- whatever- can be spat out with a contemptuous sneer. Listen to how the wingnuts say it. Does it sound positive to you?
How about let's take back the ghawddammed language, ok? If we can't even do that among ourselves, we surely won't be saving anything from these Repug brigands and fanatics.
And remember, don't go online without first checking yourself for thought pollution. The conditioning is everywhere. When we, the dedicated opponents of the radical right start using their damn abused language, we need to re-evaluate our own thinking and identity.