I learn new words or expressions almost every day on Substack (also Compact magazine). Here are a few I’ve come across in my readings over the past two weeks.
Literally "paper” tigers
“Paper is a delicate material, unable to withstand any environmental pressure it encounters. Even in a case where it is not subject to rapid heat or moisture, it will eventually erode. A group defined by their hatred for women, children, families, and fatherhood, will not last more than half a generation.”
4/5 creators are not being forced to not be creative
"....questioned 483 poets, writers, actors and arts administrators. More than four out of five (84%) said that they never, rarely, or only sometimes felt free to give their opinions."
Change happens “one funeral at a time”
Also, "history rhymes" and "omertà"
“Over the course of the 2010s, wokeness celebrated such a complete triumph that it has effectively turned older forms of leftism, from economic radicalism to liberal progressivism, into relics. As a result, the elite communities which now hold power in left-of-center America lack a viable alternative to the reigning ideology. For anybody who is committed to remaining on the left, there simply isn’t an alternative paradigm to wokeness.”
Donald Trump's business "nous"
“Nous” means “smarts” or “savoir faire”. Who knew? Not nous.
Also "the providential man"
https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-techno-populist-convergence-2/
In the end maybe the problem really is men in suits.
Zombie institutionalism
Yes, of course they’re dead, but they are still standing around in all those government building closets.
“Ouroboros of interest”
Maybe not the meek you thought will be inheriting.
Sloganeer
Not a new term but one that is generally under-utilized imo.
Virtue ethics
Alistair MacIntyre was the Left’s rising star. So they benched him.
https://www.compactmag.com/article/postliberalisms-reluctant-godfather/
Wokery
Also “to monster,” now a verb; and “transloons.”
"Cleverness, like intelligence, is not a virtue in itself. Wisdom is, but there has been precious little of that."
In case you think it is impossible to say anything coherent, reasoned and critical about the Jews.
I’m pretty sure I have the other kind of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome), not the kind where lefties start screaming as soon as the stoplight turns red, but the kind that is just all mixed up all the time.
I am thinking maybe I should do some editorial illustrations for these articles. Some have photos or graphs, but no illustration. I miss that.