By continuing to use and teach these words, we refuse to allow language to become a weapon of control.
As Orwell ominously predicted, “The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect.” We must ensure that perfection does not come at the cost of truth and human complexity. The fight to preserve our language is, in essence, a fight to preserve the very soul of our democracy. In this unfolding drama, every word spoken is an act of defiance against a system that would erase the past, silence dissent, and ultimately, control the future.
Sources
1. • New York Times, "These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration" (March 7, 2025) • George Orwell, 1984 • Aldous Huxley, Brave New World • Sherrilyn Ifill, Civil Rights Attorney and Scholar
Appendix:
The following is excerpted from the New York Times, March 7, 2025. This is a list of words flagged for exclusion in government documents: