Sunday, October 31, 2010

Of Sarah Palin and William Shakespeare

Well known for reinventing the English language based on her constituents’ perception of Shakespeare’s works in order to achieve her own political ends, is Sarah Palin reinventing Shakespeare to her own ends?


By: Ringo Bones


Ever since the former Alaska governor gained widespread global fame – or is it notoriety – for “reinventing” the English language and her constituents’ perception of the works of William Shakespeare in order to achieve her own political ends (The 2012 US presidential Elections?). One could be forgiven to wonder if Sarah Palin is trying too hard to be an authority on Shakespeare, or is she?

Back in July 2010, a spoof Internet site inspired by the former Alaska governor’s “invented English / proprietary English” (or is it Republican English?) by turning it into Shakespearean sonnets gained worldwide fame or notoriety depending on your ethnicity. The site and related brouhaha even proposed a new English word for proposed entry into the roster – i.e. “Shakespalin”. Surprisingly, many of William Shakespeare’s well-informed fans now agree that there is “commonality” between the political allegiances between Sarah Palin and William Shakespeare.

Given the state of organized Christianity during the time of Shakespeare’s time, the famed English bard probably can’t seem to look beyond the institutionalized anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, misogyny, chauvinism and other religiously motivated politically-incorrect thinking of his time. But what is Sarah Palin’s excuse?

Ever since Dr. Samuel Johnson created the first ever definitive English dictionary establishing standardized spellings of English words that even William Shakespeare and his scholars will eventually fall in line. As opposed to what the great English bard did before of spelling words according to his creative moods eventually had fallen out of fashion.

The “Shakespalinism” of Sarah Palin these days is not only unfashionable it also goes against the rules of the English language. Using the ass-end of the Queen’s English in order to achieve her political ends may seem to appear cool to her constituents, but to me – it makes her an anti-semantic.