Friday, August 17, 2012

When Giving Became “Giving BACK”


For the past several years now I’ve been unable to peruse a newspaper or magazine without running into the latest human-interest story about somebody “giving back” to their community or, more likely, some self-proclaimed do-gooder calling on everyone else to “give back.”  Too many people don’t seem to realize that the seemingly innocuous “giving back” catch phrase was the precursor - and now close relative to - the “nobody got rich on his own” and “you didn’t build that” tripe being spewed by leftists like Elizabeth Warren and Barack Obama.  While many have been swift and vocal in their rejection of the “you didn’t build that” comment, some of those same folks seem to have no problem happily chirping about “giving back.”

Let’s start with this question:  When did the term “share” suddenly become inadequate to describe what people do when they give some of what is theirs to others?  The answer is it became inadequate when the Left realized that to “share” implies charity - the voluntary giving of something that belongs to you as opposed to the fulfillment of an obligation that is owed to others.  When we “share,” no entitlement is implied, as it is when we “give back.”  “Giving back” is, as with all things the Left does, a subtle manipulation of language intended to instill a subliminal message.  It’s meant to change the way people think about what belongs to them and to others, without ever engaging in a debate about it.  And it’s been working quite well.  Well enough, in fact, that Obama felt emboldened to be a little more open with the plan, only to find out that people don’t really like the leftwing agenda when it’s not veiled in catchy, grade-school slogans.

And it shares another trait with many leftist ploys in that it’s difficult to confront as the Left will simply portray you as a “meany” who doesn’t appreciate others in the community if you don’t go along with the “giving back” scheme.  Nonetheless I suggest, my friends, that the next time someone cheerily imposes upon you to “give back,” that you challenge them a little bit by asking what they mean when they say “give back.”  When they stare at you, blinking, and mumble something about giving or charity, politely set them straight on the real meaning of charity.  

8 comments:

  1. Interesting point. It is amazing how we keep coming up with posts where liberals have actually changed the meaning of words to satisfy their own ideology. We all know that liberals do not like to share as much as others - look at the measly amount of money Biden, Pelosi, Reid, and Obama have given to charities. They would rather spend someone else's hard earned bucks.

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  2. Yes, Patrick, leftists are no stranger to hypocrisy.

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  3. Perfect, CW!

    That's right along the lines of taxes being called "contributions" and government spending being called "investing".

    People voluntarily "contribute" and "invest". There's not one damned thing "voluntary" about having your money taken at the point of a government gun through taxes, or being wasted through profligate spending.

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    1. Thank you so much, Brian. It’s so funny you should bring up the “investing” lie, as that is one of my biggest pet peeves. As a former loan analyst for a big bank, I know that boondoggles like Obamacare are not "investments" at all – they are expenses, plain and simple.

      Vocabulary to the democrats is like what a rocket launcher is to terrorists – a powerful weapon.

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    2. LOL!

      Actually, I always thought vocabulary to the socialists was more like Silly Putty: it's whatever shape you want it to be that day.

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  4. Awesome post! I came from a poor single mom working two jobs to take care of 4 children. I started working when I was 10 and never stopped. Over the years because I was willing to take chances and worker hard, put in 100+ hour weeks, and risk everything, I've done very well. I pay a lot in taxes, I employ a number of people and I give generously to charities. When someone implies that I'm greedy it really pisses me off! The whole movement is an attempt to same success. They want to make anyone successful look bad and make them feel guilty.
    My pledge going forward is that anytime an organization ask me to give back to the community, I will express that they have offended me and that I will no longer contribute to their cause. The only way to cure people of this offensive behavior is to hit them where it hurts!

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    1. Thank you, Jim. I agree – it’s time for people to feel a consequence for going along blindly with the Left’s agenda.

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  5. "Giving back" is when a judge sentences you to so many hours of "community service" for your injury of that community by your criminal behavior. That's giving back.

    I've railed on this "back" thingy for decades. Now, it's even a criterion for admission to colleges. And what teenagers should be doing is learning, growing, and becoming someone of value, not "giving back".

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