Well, cut off my legs and call me short. I finally looked up the definition of “woke”. Google defines it as “alert to injustice in society, especially racism“. How puzzling. It doesn’t seem obvious why the word has become a foul accusation. Maybe it is because it has been associated with the dreaded affliction of socialism. Woke is a condition that strikes me as morally virtuous. I guess if that dapper lad, Tucker Carlson, or if that malignant showboat #45 misuse a word long enough and frequently enough, many followers will latch on to their deceptive vocabulary. Regular folks who polish their political acumen by watching Fox will often pick up the vocabulary of Republican talking points. Listen for it. Goebbels would have been impressed by this applied art of persuasion.

What philosophical swamp fever is it that afflicts Florida Republicans? Rep Matt Gaetz (R-Fla) recently accused the US SecDef Austin and the pentagon leadership of being under the grip of “woke-ism” during a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing. Gaetz had to be reminded that it wasn’t the US that invaded Ukraine. Casting the false aspersion of “woke” is very much like accusing someone of believing in diversity, equity and inclusion. I would take it as a compliment.