Or does it?
According to the Miriam-Webster College Dictionary (2003): Rhetorical means:
- rhe*tor*i*cal \ri-ˈtȯr-i-kəl, -ˈtär-\ also rhe*tor*ic \ri-ˈtȯr-ik, -ˈtär-\ adj (15c) 1 a : of, relating to, or concerned with rhetoric b : employed for rhetorical effect ;esp : asked merely for effect with no answer expected <a ~ question> 2 a : given to rhetoric : grandiloquent b : verbal — rhe*tor*i*cal*ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adv
Our friends at Canarypapers.wordpress.com posted on 9/9/08 : The Answer to Sarah Palin’s Rhetorical Question: Book Burning. The blog is partisan, and it may fall into the slippery-slope argument of censorship-first, fascism-next.
BUT – The discussion of what a ‘rhetorical’ question is entertaining. Here’s the gist of it: Rhetorical Questions are not meant to be answered, but to pursuade the listener to an opinion (as in definition b. above) So when Sarah Palin said that her asking the librarian about banning books was ‘just rhetorical’, how was she trying to pursuade Mary Ellen Baker?
The word Palin probably meant was ‘hypothetical’, but even banning books ‘hypothetically’ is unseemly.
September 11, 2008 at 5:27 am
First off, thank you for putting this blog together! Second, regarding Palin’s use of the word ‘rhetorical’ to describe her book-banning queries: Palin is an adult who has attained a high level of power. Maybe I’m naive but I prefer to think that she has an above average command of the English language and therefore take her words at face value. Why speculate that she ‘probably’ meant to say ‘hypothetical’? I think her use of the word ‘rhetorical’ is revealing and demonstrates her tendency towards thug like behavior, intimidation and abuse of power.
September 13, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Here’s another word to add to the dictionary:
PalinDrone = a political surrogate with two faces that denies taking any pork with one face while simultaneously swallowing over $200 million worth with the other face. Includes forked-tongue attachment that painfully marks the ears of American taxpayers. Requires large amounts of big oil to run. Also skilled at firing librarians and studying the mating habits of crabs. Made in Alaska.
September 26, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Censorship is hyperbole for decency (the quality of being polite and respectful). When there is little or no thought to what is placed on library book shelves there is always an associated and equal paucity of thought as to the unspoken laws of human decency. It is the thoughtlessness of such individuals that makes me want to cry. When common human decency is tossed out the window for the sake of “free speech” our culture is in serious moral danger and we have effectively placed our children upon the altar of moral compromise. Be oh so careful of how you spend your freedoms. “Freedom” can function as our undoing. Freedom for freedom’s sake is not freedom at all. Freedom, to me, means we are free to make the best of decisions based on the blessings God has afforded us as a nation. Unfortunately we also have the freedom to ride the rails to ruin. I have personally seen what it means to have what so many of you desire – that is, a “free society.” You can have exactly that. Simply move to Holland, particularly to Amsterdam. Drugs are served up in the public parks and at “coffee shops”. Order your drug of choice off a menu. Then let your eyes feast upon the smut on billboards and phone booths. Don’t stop there. Simply turn on your TV and surf across channel after channel of XXX porn with your children. Now that’s freedom, isn’t it? Freedom to exploit women, ruin marriages, and build a society that craves the next level of pleasure. Be careful of what you wish to occupy the book shelves of our libraries!!!!
October 10, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Obama and Biden are bad news for future library patrons because they support the killing of babies (even if they survive the abortion)! Obama has voted against “Born Alive” bills.
Vote pro-life… vote Palin