One of the very first podcasts, and still my favorite, is Radio Zero. Rick and Rose, husband and wife, founders of the rock band Poster Children, discuss their very interesting lives.
They talk about their jobs, children, parents, movies and of course politics. They happen to be liberals (they prefer the Green party) living in Champaign, Illinois. I like to listen because they have very different lives from mine.
Rose’s consistent (and perhaps only) political diatribe is ranting about President Bush’s pronunciation of the word “nuclear.” This is commonly held up by liberals as evidence that our president is uneducated and dumb.
The usual argument is that anyone who can’t pronounce “nuclear” obviously isn’t smart enough to be running our country – or to have his finger on the button.
Now I have been amused at this particular criticism because until George W did it on national television, I also pronounced “nuclear” the same way, even though I am an english major. It probably has something to do with my parents growing up in west Texas. Pronunciation of this word is different in various parts of the country. Just as my in-laws from New York can’t pronounce “drawer” correctly and brits add a syllable to “aluminum.” There are thousands of similar examples.
While the United States has become much more homogenous in how we speak, there remain variations by region or even city. This is part of our great heritage as a country with residents from all over the world. Our differences in speaking should be revered as much as our differences in race, religion or even personal style.
I find it worrisome when the political party that prides itself on inclusiveness and diversity are in many cases the ones making the most prejudiced comments. “George W doesn’t say “nuclear” the same way I do so he must be stupid – along with all those hicks in the red states who voted for him.”
Yes, they welcome gays, lesbians and transgenders. But what about evangelical christians with a southern accent? Or small townsfolk who count their pennies and their cows? Or business people with a silk tie?
Apparently the sound bites which have become our political philosophy must be in the proper accent and pronounced a certain way.
This kind of nit-picking gets in the way of debating real ideas and issues intelligently, recognizing that both sides always have something to say, no matter what accent they have when they say it.
I’m sorry to make Rose an example when this viewpoint is so prevalent among liberals today. Spending time with Rick and Rose continues to be one of my favorite things, even if I don’t always agree with them. They live a life different than mine, but I know they want many of the same things that I do.
