I like straight talk…

… hardly anyone employs the use of blunt straight forward talk anymore. Suddenly it has become more acceptable to verbally tip toe, side stepping offense. As a result people are afraid to state their thoughts emphatically with conviction, preferring to hem and haw. Mr. Roach has no such qualms.

I want every illegal alien in this country deported, and that’s not heartless, but rather an acknowledgment that our laws need to be enforced. No injustice is inflicted upon anyone here against the law by sending them back to their home countries. And the complaint that their native-born kids will be hurt is made highly selectively. Families are separated all the time for their parents’ lawbreaking. Immigration lawbreakers shouldn’t be given any special benefits in this regard. Worst case scenario, the whole family moves to Mexico . . . a place, recall, where Americans frequently go on vacation. [source]

Not only do I agree with Mr. Roach’s perspective on immigration, it is a perfect example of speaking in absolutes. Marc Barnes, The Bad Catholic, discusses absolute speech further noting that using such vague speech implies a lack of responsibility for a thought in favor of feelings.

As an example, we have the widespread use of the phrase “I feel like” replacing the assertion “I think that”. This is particularly rampant within modern Christianity – “I feel like God’s calling me to break up with you”, “I feel like God doesn’t care about what you wear to church” – but it is as often used to preface everyday statements – “I feel like we should leave, those clouds look ominous”, “I feel like we should run, that zombie has a knife”. What does this dubious bit of slang do to our sentences? It emasculates them. No one can be blamed for a feeling, no one can be held accountable for it. Feelings are subjective. They are relative. No one can argue with the person who ‘feels like’ gays should be free to marry, any more than argue with the man who feels like a turtle. It is unarguable because it is insane. [Read the full article here]

I think every instructor charged with teaching language to youth should make the above article required reading. Absolutely.