The Devil’s in the Definitions
bad apples [bad ˈapəls]
noun
- A sociological argument that the harms done by a few police officers should not tarnish the profession as a whole.
- A sociological argument that the harms done by a few protestors should tarnish the movement as a whole.
community [kə’myoOnədē]
noun
- A group of people with shared values or interests, especially within the same geographic location.
- People who look like me.
curfew [ˈkərˌfyoO]
noun
The time at which the street lights go on and the tear gas comes out.
downtown [dounˈtoun]
noun
The central location of a large population area. See also “Ground zero.”
gaslighting [gaslīt-ing]
sic
This is not a thing. You’re just making it up.
ham sandwich [ham ˈsanˌ(d)wiCH]
noun, slang
The rare police officer who is ever charged with a crime.
justice [ˈjəstəs]
noun
- Equity or fairness with regard to basic human rights and dignity.
- Whatever the law lets me get away with.
pandemic [panˈdemik]
noun
- A global epidemic.
- The American criminal justice system.
protect [prəˈtekt]
verb, used with object
- To defend or secure oneself against a brutal and oppressive police state.
- To defend or secure property, reputations, and electoral prospects.
protest [ˈprōˌtest]
noun
A gathering of white people often with weapons for some real or imagined political or cultural grievance.
race [rās]
noun
- A social construct and fundamental fact of American society. See also “Original sin.”
verb, used with/out object - To make a car go quickly.
riot [ˈrīət]
noun
A gathering of people of color for any purpose.
rubber bullets [ˈrəbər ‘boOləts]
noun
Small but dangerous projectiles used by men with small penises and without moral sense or self-control.
serve [sərv]
verb, with object
- To be confined in a prison after a criminal conviction. See also “Mandatory minimums.”
- To have guaranteed employment regardless of conduct. See also “Qualified immunity.”
This was originally published on How Pants Work.
Bees on Blow 