Sardonic Critique

The directive from the White House banning the use of the word “felon” on White House grounds, comes with threats of immediate expulsion or disciplinary action for noncompliance. This royal decree represents an Orwellian attempt to control language itself, echoing the principles of Newspeak in 1984, where words are erased to manipulate reality.

If a word is so offensive that its mere utterance warrants punishment, then logically, the condition it describes should be equally unacceptable. By banning the term “felon,” the administration tacitly acknowledges the stigma and gravity of felony convictions—yet instead of addressing the substantive issue, it chooses to manipulate perception by suppressing speech. If saying “felon” is unacceptable, how is being a felon in the White House acceptable? The double standard reeks of authoritarianism, where the truth is rewritten by decree.

The parody royal decree is a blatant attempt at thought control. Criminal records are a matter of public record, legal classification, and historical fact. Banning the term does nothing to change reality—it only forces subservience to an enforced narrative. If a sitting president can unilaterally declare a word off-limits under penalty of punishment, what’s next? Will criticism of policy be labeled “hate speech”? Will facts that contradict state-approved messaging be deemed “misinformation,” i.e. “Gulf of Mexico”? This move exemplifies a fascistic obsession with controlling perception rather than addressing substantive concerns.

Language is power. The ability to define and name reality is essential for a functioning democracy. When those in power dictate what can and cannot be said, they are not merely changing the rules of decorum—they are reshaping reality to fit their agenda. Their action is not governance; it is an attempt to impose ideological purity through coercion. If a convicted felon can sit in the Oval Office but no one can acknowledge it, then the law and truth itself have been subordinated to authoritarian whim.

This farcical memo should be met with outright defiance. No government—especially one in a nation founded on free speech—has the right to erase words from public discourse to shield its leader from reality. The American people should not tolerate such blatant censorship. The Constitution does not grant exemptions for the fragile egos of the powerful. If the word “felon” is banned today, what truths will be outlawed tomorrow?