From: Denyse O'Leary (oleary@sympatico.ca)
Date: Mon Jul 14 2003 - 09:05:06 EDT
Robert Schneider wrote:
> Actually, Dawkins and Dennett are using "bright" as a noun. In that
respect it bears comparison to the word "gay." I'm not sure I agree
with Denyse that the promotion of "gay" was the work of "the homosexual
lobby," whatever that is. "Gay as an adjective (according to my
_Webster's Word Histories_) appeared in homosexual literature as an
adjective in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but slowly moved out of the
subculture as homosexuals became more visible in society. It is true
that some advocacy groups for homosexuals began to use the word in the
titles of their organizations (perhaps the "lobbies" Denyse refers to),
but the word spread of its own accord in mainstream literature and
press. About the same time (50s and 60s), "gay" also began to be used
>as a noun, which is probably its most common usage now.
Okay, so you said it yourself, Robert. The homosexual lobbies began to
use the word "gay," adjective AND noun, to describe themselves to the
public. My point is that mainstream culture accepted the
self-description because the word was no longer needed for other
important purposes. I doubt that the homosexual lobbies could have
similarly appropriated "cool." Mainstream youth culture demanded and got
that one.
"Bright" - adjective or noun - won't work for the ultra-Darwinists for
two reasons: 1) The public needs it to describe people that we think are
smart - in a practical sense. ("Johnny is a bright kid"; "The felon they
caught was none too bright." Et cetera.) 2) It is very dangerous to
self-describe as bright. Anyone can prove you wrong in front of a crowd
by catching you in a simple mistake.
Let the fun begin.
Denyse
-- To see what's new in faith and science issues, go to www.designorchance.com My next book, By Design or By Chance?: The Growing Controversy Over the Origin of Life in the Universe (Castle Quay Books, Oakville) will be published Fall 2003.To order, call Castle Quay, 1-800-265-6397, fax 519-748-9835, or visit www.afcanada.com (CDN $19.95 or US$14.95).
Denyse O'Leary 14 Latimer Avenue Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5N 2L8 Tel: 416 485-2392/Fax: 416 485-9665 oleary@sympatico.ca www.denyseoleary.com
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