Peter M. Rojcewicz, PhD

We’ve been immersed for the better part of the last year of the presidential campaign in national vitriol. Linguistic anthropology indicates that, among cultures everywhere, language initiates and holds its members within its unique discourse.

A community’s way of speaking is the unofficial but lived record of community values and acts. It presents an ideal image of how a culture sees itself and wants to be seen, as well as a shadow portrait of whom people are not, how they definitely do not live, and what topics, attitudes, practices, or perspectives are prohibited. 

For our nation to be healthy, our common discourse of engaged-citizenship and its social embodiment must make room for diverse, dissenting views. Are will up for it? Only democracy is at stake.