Community & Culture

— B —

• Bully One who uses verbal or physical assault to intimidate and subjugate. Euphemism for terrorism. Continuing the cycle. (see also Terrorism)

— C —

• Charity Generosity, tax strategy, or substitute for justice.
• Citizen A person deemed part of a given state or nation, with all its benefits and burdens.
• Confucianism An East Asian philosophy of right relationship — that we each have duties to the other. For instance, even a ruler protected by the Mandate of Heaven who fails the relationship loses the mandate — and the right to rule with it.
• Country A state with borders, a government, and international recognition. Also, one's nation. (see also Nation)

— D —

• Deserve Outcome justified by merit, luck, or moral presumption.
• Dignity Inherent or earned respect — the oldest human argument.
• Diversity Recognizing the differences between us — an attempt to bring us together — but corporatized and weaponized to keep us apart.

— E —

• Evil Intentional cruelty, moral failure, and the word that ends further inquiry.

— F —

• Fair Equal, equitable, or whatever suits the moment.

— G —

• Good What's right, what works, or what feels nice — used as if they're the same.

— J —

• Judgment Private thoughts, public criticism, legal ruling, and divine reckoning.

— L —

• Loser The one who didn't get there first, didn't get lucky, or was eliminated by the competition. Also, someone we don't like. (see also Winner)

— M —

• Morality What is said to be right and wrong — by nature, by God, or by edict. To some, dynamic or even a reason to destroy.

— N —

• Natural From nature, or morally correct. The confusion sells.
• Norms The mostly unwritten rules of acceptable behavior in a given place and time. Enforced by others, even without law or in spite of it. (see also Reasonable, Normal, or Law)

— O —

• Opportunity Access to possibility. The inequality in nature is exacerbated by design. Sold as meritocracy. (see also Meritocracy)

— P —

• Professional Trained, credentialed, and paid. The line between amateur and authority — sometimes just a fee.

— R —

• Responsibility A person or entity's share of the burden. Whether accepted or not.

— S —

• Shame Normally a moral consequence of transgression. Also a social and political weapon.
• Success Recognition for achievement by effort or just by circumstance. Can be fleeting, often illusory, and always relative. (see also Failure)

— T —

• Them The most dangerous four-letter word. The stranger, the competitor, the enemy. To us, it is we. (see also Us)

— W —

• We The most dangerous two-letter word. Born from ego and the need for security. To them, we is they. (see also They)
• Winner The one who got there first, got there lucky, or got there by eliminating the competition. Also, someone we like better.(see also Loser)