Evening star., 1948-09-16
Semantics in Liberalism

the plans Tor the coming elecuon, ana Wnue
the nominees are writing their speeches and
taking their stands on the issues, there is no
serious attempt on the part Of politicians and
statesmen nor any real effort on the part Of
newspaper editors, columnistS, commentators
and other leaders of public opinion to clarity
| one of the most vital points, namely the in
feriority complex implied In several OF our
political terminologies.
This, taken at face value would not seem
very important. But, in my opinion, If our
phraseology continues loose, there will be
tendency to accept errors in semantics as In
dicative of true classification.
At no time do I read a news item about
Americans for Democratic Action, for example,
without finding it described ss q "non-Com-
munist" or anti Communist" liberal organ
ization. This is dangerous in the long run
because 1t has the latent potential of creating
the false stereotype that Communists are lib
erals or one substantial part of them. The
on-Communist" tag leaves those so-called
n-Communist" liberal organizations with
no other definite program, but that of being
nom Communist in the minds of the public.
Anti Communist liberals" is q phrase COM
monty used in referring to certain New Deal
ers, CIO unions or other similar organizations.
This term, If used continuously, would mould
the pattern OF our political thought to denote
that liberals, normally, do not fight Commu-
nists, but strangely enough, those liberals do;
so-and here lies the unconscious inferiority
complex-this becomes their distinguishing
characteristic" The descriptive hypothesis is
wrong because it disregards the very nature OF
liberalism whose primary postulate is spiritual
freedom of mankind with q positive force In
conditioning socio-economic structure, so as not
to breed autocracy Of any category.
Communist INSPIRED" has the connotation
Of defeatism and sometimes false labelling 1t
gives a general impression that communism is
so inclusive doctrine and SO dynamic q faith,
that without adherence to 1t, 1t might inspire
actions one way or the other. This aggrandise-
ment OF such q theory, 50 as to give 1t the force
of inspiration, is symptomatic Of basic weakness
in our political attitudes. 1t is wise, In these
crucial months, to be aware that motives, tactics
and notions which help materialize principles.
rather than similarity Of principles with others,
are the criteria to label an organization The
public must not be denied means to distinguish
between deception and reality In formulating
its judgments
Progressive Party" Captured.
Communist -infiltrated" is also a false dc
ton The mere susceptibility to Communists
in such q way as to be dominated by them
disqualifies an organization from being liberal.
The Progressive Party" falls in this category,
because Of its escapist yielding to Communist
leadership.
Liberalism repudiates the deterministic inter-
pretation of human actions. It calls on gov
ernments to set up agencies which would DO
suficiertly cohesive to prosecute decisive
policies, and deliberative enough to conform
to the harmonious interplay Of opinion free
from totalitarian and coercive powers exerted
on the individual.
Undoubtedly. there were many true liberal
organizations branded as Communist" by the
hysteria and Red-phobia displayed in many
instances Of recent years.
The Communists TN America always have
wanted to identify themselves with the liberal
forces of this country. They have been partially
successful, and many liberal measures. IN.
dividuals and organizations have been mis-
taken for communistic by large sector Of the
public AZ q result Of shrewd and misleading
propaganda.
There is no doubt that liberals, for their
part, are to be blamed They never attempted
to clarity this issue. Their mere silence was
aiding to entrench that stigma. Political frus-
tration made them accept the negative side
Of their identification
Liberals Hunger for Recognition.
lnelr QeSlre lOT rcCOBHltlOu ulhue tIlcIu IcSo
dynamic and somewhat intimidated. For
tunately, 1t Is not retreat, but relaxation" In
periods when reaction becomes 50 overwhelm-
ing. The tense counter-attack which they
have to stage necessitates, therefore, the tenn
porary emphasis on this recognition-hunger
even with injustice TO their true and real
nature.
The semantics Of our political expressions
are the moulding factors Of our political think
ing It Is indispensable to understand that
everyday usage Of q phraseology would de-
tern1ine our attitude towards political and
cultural schools Of thought.
The continuous usage Of Communist
trated, inspired, 'front.'" or our description IN
terms Of anti or noncommunism, in indicative
that the Communists won the first round in
the battle Of political semantics.
They have been able to market themselves
for public consumption as part Of the liberal
movement. Mon Communist liberal helped
that myth to grow. The "anti-Communist
liberal" phrase made the basic conflict which
exists between liberals and Communists appear
an anomaly. They also have succeeded in pre-
senting themselves as the most extreme Of lib
erals, and those who oppose them among liberals
oppose their extremism and not their doc
trines
The contlnuatlon OF tMs UNCONSCIOUS poiltl-
cal inferiorty complex is not justified nor is it
logical. We have the human. material. his
torical and spiritual resources to undo it. BY
offering only two alternatives Of thought re-
alignment communism and reaction) We
explicitly are assassinating the real force
liberalism-which has advanced promoted,
cultivated and preserved our free institutions
and democratic ideals.
To think In terms Of what iS rather than
what is not, is the fundamental basis for .
healthier leadership and more capable public
opinion with the result Of less confusion in our
stands on various issues.
CLOVIS r McSOUD.
Polls Not Too Important
To the Editor Of The Star
Regarding the editorial in The Sunday Star
On political Polls" far be 1t from me to ques-