A conversation about the Confederate flag...

[Igel]

72. "They" are all dead.

And every generation has to construct meaning on its own.

It's how languages--which are just systems of signs--change.

Within a language words and phrases can develop divergent or competing definitions within social group.

Interestingly, when you get people from the different groups together the people from each group are quite insistent that they and only know the "true" meaning of a word and the other group has no claim to defining it. (Unless they've realized that words are just noise until somebody gives them meaning and intends for another person to understand that meaning.)

So I still use the subjunctive. "I think it essential that John be at the meeting" doesn't mean the same thing as "I think it essential that John is at the meeting." The first is for a meeting that's planned, and saying that his presence there is essential but possibly in doubt; in the second, my only understanding is that John is actually at the meeting. My students in my new state of residence have to paraphrase to get at the distinction and completely lack the subjunctive. The form "be" can only be substandard or AAVE, and a few students have tried to take offense, thinking I'm imitating them. They don't notice it when they have to read older literature. That we all speak the same language gives them license to believe that we all speak identically. It just ain't so.

That's what this is. Except people insist that their and only their interpretation of some shapes and colors is the One True Definition. I've seen people do the same with swastikas--and watched them blithely accept that ancient Vedic writings and Native American rock art were both produced by Nazis.