"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidarity to pure wind" Politics and the English Language , George Orwell (1946)
Beginning in the 20th Century, Colonialists, specifically European powers, set up shop in territories later dubbed the Third World. These countries were in Africa. They were in Central and South America together with their West Indian neighbours. Countries in the Levant. Countries in the Indian subcontinent and countries lying in between.
The immense attraction to those countries was, of course, their vast untapped natural resources. A limitless and uninformed cheap labour force. Friendly tropical climates. The diversity of breathtaking landscapes.
The Imperialists doggedly and systematically inculcated in their subjects the doctrine of their (the subjects) inferiority. They stated and displayed their own superiority as a matter of fact. Superiority, primarily, in relation to skin colour, physical attributes and culture. It was here, that the justification for the lies and murders, first revealed its deceptive face.
Then, a wind of change against the inequity of Colonialism blew across Third World continents. The wind was fanned largely, by the aftermath of the Second World War, by the Americans and by the Soviets (each,admittedly, for different reasons). The gust of that wind precipitated a shift in direction of political policy. The Colonialist spoke of "bettering" their subject. "Empowering" their subject. This was to be achieved through offers of coveted educational scholarships, exchange programmes and work opportunities in the "home" countries. The mirage of solidarity aligned itself with the wind.
The "home" countries were light years ahead of the Third World; politically and economically. Socio-culturally too, others have argued They were, therefore, better organised, economic havens, beacons to the fulfillment of the perfect life. There was, then, a reversal in the desire to want to possess for themselves. Just as the Colonialist had found the colonies attractive,so too, did their subjects discover wonders to behold in the home countries (the climates notwithstanding). The pull, fascination and attraction has not ceased.
Today, those countries that remain in the Third World, continue to play catch up with developed democracies and economies. In the meantime, their citizens are consistently drawn to the shores and borders of their former Masters. They come in droves, be it legitimately or otherwise. In turn, this has created "The Immigrant Crisis" "The Migrant Crisis" "The Refugee Crisis".
Political language has gone full circle and now bites where it hurts. Ouch!
Interesting read
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