Mr. Lazarow introduced our "perception vs. reality" discussion with an article in the Feb 31 New York Times in which a professor of Behavioral Science explained the semantic problem with tax "rebates". He explains that the government's idea of cash stimulation is only good if it is named correctly. Instead of a "rebate" it should be called a "bonus", which will encourage spending rather than saving. He argues that labels severely affect the way we think about things.
This article provides us with a current, applicable example of how reality is merely a matter of one's preception. Words are nothing more than symbols and symbols are, in turn, defined by the individual. A "terrorist" to one person may be a "freedome fighter" to another. The issue of "global warming" may be casual redefined as a mere "change of climate". The power of language is endless. Language can devide just as easily as it can bring people together. Words are very powerful . But that doesnt mean we should ever be afraid to question deffinitions, for words are defined only by one's indidual preception and the values one chooses to associate with a particular arrangment of letters.
danielle radey
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