Linguistic totalitarianism

PETA, the well known animal rights activist group, wants to stop people from using what it terms as "anti-animal language." It has prepared a helpful chart to give examples of phrases that it deems to be offensive.

The whole thing is ridiculous. Why should it stop there. Using the same logic, you could argue that saying, "That takes the cake" is offensive to diabetics, or "Don't cry over spilt milk" is offensive to people who are lactose intolerant.

I am a Christian. I could quite easily start a campaign to eradicate the use of the name of Jesus as a swear word. Just yesterday, hundreds of frustrated train commuters were left stranded by a signal fault. It was a hot day. Replacement buses were organised, but it took hours for the crowds to dissipate. At least one of these passengers used that phrase to express his frustration.

If I was a theocratic dictator, my first act would be to enact a decree to outlaw the use of swear words, and all forms of blasphemy. I am being facetious, but it's not that far removed from what PETA is proposing.