Do you remember all those weekly vocab lessons throughout your school years? Well, here is a list of what I believe to be relevant vocabulary words for 2021. Study them carefully. See if you can learn the words, use them correctly in sentences yourself, and recognize their applications as they appear in written and spoken dialogs today.
1. Fascism: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control; stands for forcible suppression of opposition (shut them up, lock them up or beat them up – my words)
2. Fascist: a person who is dictatorial (typical of a ruler with total power) or has extreme right-wing views
3. Autocrat: a ruler who has (or seeks) absolute power; someone who insists on complete obedience from others
4. Autocracy: a country, state, or society governed by one person with absolute power
5. Democracy: a system of government by the whole population ... typically through elected representatives
6. Socialism: a system of society in which there is no private property; a system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
7. Insurgency: a violent, armed, rebellion against authority
8. Insurrection: an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government
9. Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state
10. Terrorist: a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims
Learn to recognize these words, interpret their use, and pay attention to those who use them – both correctly and incorrectly. Be prepared for a pop quiz. The results could very well impact you for life.
