Moderation and the "golden mean"

[Catherineanne]

But please try to understand that when you describe the Third Reich as "anarchy" you are perpetuating the abuse of a word that refers to everything I believe in, liberty, justice, human equality. It is an insult to those anarchists who died fighting against fascism throughout Europe.

Anarchy 1 absence of government 2 a state of lawlessness or political disorder owing to the absence of governmental authority 3 utopian society with complete freedom and no government 4 any state of confusion or chaos.

I think you will find that I was using meanings 1, 2 and 4 pretty well mixed up together, and that none of them is inappropriate in the context of the Third Reich. You are perhaps referring to number 3, but just because you have one meaning of this word does not mean you own it, or that you define it. Or, more importantly, that I am insulting anyone. That suggestion I find tiresome beyond belief. Not to mention untrue.

I would suggest not only greater temperance of language, but also a little more tolerance for meanings which are perfectly standard, and not at all abuses of the word, according to any standard dictionary.