White Out

                 I’m no longer amused by the war on all things “white.”The use of the word itself has come under attack by some progressive extremists of late.  Ironically, “white privilege” is the term used to tar all things white with the same brush. Snow white, pure white, the Great White Way, white collar, white knight, White Christmas, etc., etc., are all terms used to illustrate the notion that the word white has a deliberately superior, non-inclusive connotation.

                That is a white lie.

                I myself am personally offended by the use of terms such as “white as a sheet” indicating someone who is scared silly. “White-collar crime” infers that anyone with a desk job or managerial position is likely to be a crook. “White knuckle” is another term used to describe someone who is scared. The term “White feather” denotes a symbol of cowardliness. Detect a trend here? Why is the universally recognized symbol of surrender a white flag? And men in white coats come to take the mentally unstable to white rooms? How insensitive is that?

                “Whitewash” means to cover up, to hide something, typically an indiscretion or illegality. “White elephant?” That is a possession unwanted but difficult to dispose of. And “white trash?” Really? Hate speech.

                Come to think of it…I want the word “white” to be evicted from our language, too.