Red

[Beverly Flanigan]

I agree, the label will only serve to rile up strong feelings about 2004,
when Ohio went red under somewhat dubious circumstances (let's not go
there...).  Ted is currently U.S. rep from my district, and we love him
down here in SE Ohio.  But he's already been called every name in the
book--leftist, non-religious (though he's a Methodist minister), even gay
(because he and his wife have no children).  It may be that the sign is
meant to suggest "Ted [is not] Red," i.e., pinko; but it won't be read that
way these days.

At 12:47 PM 8/11/2006, Beverly Flanigan wrote:
>At 09:13 AM 8/11/2006, you wrote:
>>I was at the Ted Strickland for Governor office last night. He is running
>>on the Democratic ticket for governor of Ohio.
>>
>>I was startled to see on the wall a sign which read Ted Not Red.
>>
>>I learned that the reference was to red states not to us old reds, pinkos,
>>commies, liberals, etc. or whatever we are called these days, but I did
>>suggest that they take the sign down because there are a lot of us who
>>having been called reds for most of our lives might take offense and think
>>that it meant that Ted is distancing himself from us.
>>
>>My guess is that the current epithet for anyone to the left of Genghis Khan
>>is liberal.
>>
>>This song is apparently out of date.
>>
>>The Worker's Flag
>>
>>James O'Connell, 1899
>>
>>The worker's flag is deepest red
>>It shrouded oft our martyred dead;
>>And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold
>>Their life-blood dyed its every fold.
>>
>>Chorus:
>>Then raise the scarlet standard high!
>>Beneath its folds we'll live and die.
>>Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer
>>We'll keep the red flag flying here.
>>
>>2. Look 'round, the Frenchman loves its blaze,
>>The sturdy German chants its praise,
>>In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung
>>Chicago swells the surging throng.
>>
>>Chorus:
>>
>>  3. It waved above our infant might
>>When all ahead seemed dark as night.
>>It witnessed many a deed and vow,
>>We will not change its color now.
>>
>>Chorus:
>>
>>4. It suits today the meek and base,
>>Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place,
>>To cringe beneath the rich man's frown,
>>And haul that sacred emblem down.
>>
>>Chorus:
>>
>>5. With heads uncovered swear we all
>>To bear it onward till we fall;
>>Come dungeons dark or gallows grim,
>>This song shall be our parting hymn.
>>
>>Chorus:
>>
>>Page Stephens
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org