Of Jargon, the Jabberwocky, and New Year's Resolutions

 I was thinking about jargon today. There's a lot of it floating around in the ether, and in the cloud, and on social media, and on college campuses. In fact, jargon is everywhere. 

Now the word jargon has a couple of different meanings:

The specialized language of a trade, profession, or similar group, especially when viewed as difficult to understand by outsiders.

That definition is rather reasonable and not pejorative. A computer geek may use language about his work that is Greek to me. But then Greek is Greek to me as well, though it's perfectly comprehensible to someone raised in Greece. I don't understand Russian or Gaelic either. In fact, the only language I speak fluently is English. I have a smattering of French and Spanish, but not enough to converse, and that's about it. 

A second definition is a little more problematic:

Nonsensical or incoherent language.When you think of jargon, remember the Jabberwocky who, on the "brillig" day, was watching the "slithy toves [who] did gyre and gimble in the wabe." What does that mean? It's anyone's guess. Were these toves swimming in the swamp or were they cavorting in the tall weeds? Were they gathering hemlock to poison their enemies or playing with the lambs. Only another jabberwocky who understands the language is likely to know.

The same goes with understanding jargon. It's often used in power plays to exclude the uninitiated or to cast an atmosphere of confusion or fear, whatever the enlightened ones desire. You can learn a lot about someone by the way they use language. Do they engage in "semantic gymnastics" like the Supreme Court when it decided Roe v. Wade? Do they use language to imply evil where none exists? Do they say yes when they mean yes and no when they mean no?

Think of political jargon. Political adversaries spout terms like racism, sexism, homophobia, misogyny, deplorables, white privilege, gender fluidity, toxic masculinity, etc. to accuse and disenfranchise and slander millions of conservatives? They want us all on the defensive. If we disagree or attempt to prove they're wrong, they raise the decibel level and say that just "proves" our guilt. 

Jargon fills the language of medicine and science as well. Remember Fauci and Brix and their language of dishonesty. They called us "science deniers." Said they just wanted to "flatten the curve," Told us "masks save lives" ignoring the reality that they are useless to prevent infection. They demanded we get the jab, avoid contact with others, stay home, don't visit our elderly family members in nursing homes, told us to celebrate holidays alone, etc. ad nauseum.  They lied about the "vaccine;" it would keep us all from getting sick. They pushed it on children, young adults and pregnant women and denied the resulting deaths. 

Jargon can kill. It can also destroy relationships. 

So how does one fight back. First, resist the temptation to label others. That's a challenge for me, since I have often spoken of extremist democrats and liberal Catholics as "loony liberals." I would like, instead, to see everyone as a child of God. Those farthest from God are the most unfortunate, in need of our prayers. Jesus didn't die for the sinless, that's for sure. He loves those who have rejected Him (including me) and shouldn't I do the same to others? Except for the very young, we've all rebelled at times except for the Blessed Mother. That doesn't mean I'm called to coddle their lies or play the "I'm okay, you're okay game." Tough love speaks the truth, but always speaks the truth in charity for the good of the other. That's a tall order, but we can get better at it through practice. 

I love Mr. Rogers. After he died I had Masses said for him. He had a great approach to life and his three keys to success were 1) Be kind, 2) Be kind, and 3) Be kind. Not bad advice.  

Maybe not labeling others will be my new year's resolution. It will probably involve a very bloody tongue. Now if I can just remember that silence is golden and kindness should be our default position. 

I will try to be attentive to my own use of jargon and eliminate it from my communication with others. "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it," as Miss Stacey told Ann Shirley with the addendum, "No mistakes yet." I'll try to be patient even with myself since we are all works in progress. And that's why God gave us the sacrament of Confession. We are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, but that requires continuous work. Love is always having to say you're sorry until the day you make your last confession and take your last breath.

I want to make this last week of Advent really count, preparing a suitable welcome for the King of Kings with a pure and joyful heart. Then Christmas day really will be a time to rejoice and sing with the angels "Gloria in Excelsis Deo!"