Blinded by euphemisms
Published:Saturday | August 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
It has become of utmost importance to me to understand the role of diplomacy in today's society, to understand how euphemism changes the outlook of a majority of us Jamaicans on matters that sometimes are of dire importance.
For example, in recent times, the delinquency of a particular entity in making payments resulted in a debacle between management and owners. The raw evidence suggests that someone may be 'broke'. However, this was reworded, packaged neatly, in the term 'rebranding' and, as such, never got the attention from the people as it should have.
The employees have hung on to the word 'rebranding' and have not questioned it, nor have the media. Are we Jamaicans lacking insight, or are we blinded by the veil of 'euphemism'? It benefits me now to know that if I should find myself in a situation that would expose me I can simply repackage my situation and give it a name the public and the media will buy.
Manipulative liars
Again, we see assets being disposed of rapidly in an attempt to scamper for quick cash, and again this gets little or no attention as it is blurred by the veil of restructuring and making new investments. If we should take the time out to really listen and observe and see behind the euphemism, then we would be able to identify those who are downright manipulative liars. Cover up the truth and the poor employees suffer. What will we say when they are without jobs? Will we be diplomatic and call it voluntary redundancy?
I am, etc.,
DELSHER WILLIAMS