Euphemism: “a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive” (Merriam-Webster)

Recently, a conservative friend of mine sent me a short video from Prager University entitled, “What’s In a Word?”

(https://www.facebook.com/prageru/videos/1800253200017528/)

First, I’d like to give you some background on Prager University. It’s actually not a university. It’s a foundation located in Sherman Oakes, California and started in 2009 by conservative talk show host Dennis Prager. The foundation describes itself as “the world’s leading nonprofit that is focused on changing minds.” According to Cause IQ, its goal is to educate millions of young Americans (60.9 percent of its viewers are under 35) in conservative values. The video, hosted by Michael Knowles, describes the left’s use of euphemisms to manipulate people’s thinking. According to Knowles, “The left has a special gift for euphemisms. Their sole purpose is to deceive.” He gives several examples:

• Calling illegal aliens “undocumented immigrants”.

• Using the term “affirmative action” to give preferential treatment to the poor and minorities in job consideration and college admissions.

• Labeling those who want to keep what they make as “greedy” while imposing taxes is “paying your fair share”.

• Saying “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas.

• Morphing global warming into “climate change”.

• Using the term “obstruction” when opposing a Democrat in the White House and “resistance” when opposing a Republican.

• Imposing “intellectual conformity” in the name of “diversity”.

• Censoring opposing views in the name of “intolerance.”

• Labeling all non-left views as “hate speech’”.

Now that I have summarized Prager University’s position, let’s analyze Knowles’ statements.

Let’s begin with the name Prager University. Since it is not an institution of higher learning, isn’t calling it a university a euphemism while it is actually—a right-wing a propaganda machine?

Knowles continually calls non-conservatives “Leftists”. But that term conjures up thoughts of Communism and Marxism. Most Democrats are center right and have worked very hard to preserve capitalism through government regulation from the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the present.

In actuality, it is the Republican Party that is in the process of overthrowing representative democracy through its previous president, several members of Congress, and Fox News commentators who lied, trying to shift the Jan. 6 coup attempt onto Antifa, or characterizing the mob as a bunch of rowdy tourists and later as victims.

Republican leaders are continuing that coup attempt by passing laws in many red states that limit voting rights in the name of securing “voting safety” when several of their own leaders stated the election process was fair and votes were secure. The party has also worked to remove Republicans who maintained their integrity by refusing to throw out electoral votes after the 2020 election and by holding the bogus Arizona audit.

Knowles accuses Democrats of using euphemisms because “the[ir] sole purpose is to deceive.” That imputes motives that cannot be proven and would be hotly denied by Democrats who would argue that their main purpose is to lift up the working and middle classes and to restrict the power and influence of the 1 percent.

While there is some truth to Democrats on the left side of their party using euphemisms in the examples above, Democrats would argue that they are trying to frame government programs to be more humane and less harsh—to be more empathetic.

Knowles’ accusations can be as easily leveled against him and Prager University. In other words, this video is an example of conservative hypocrisy where the pot is calling the kettle black.

The Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 2:1 come to mind: “You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Knowles and Prager University need to take this scripture to heart when they make their videos “focused on changing minds” by telling the truth objectively and without euphemisms and lies. Their sole purpose seems to be to deceive.