![]()
The word is �arophobia� \ n. (arophobe n.,
arophobic adj.). Its definition is as follows: �The
intense, abnormal, or illogical fear of reason evidenced by personal attacks
and/or attempts to place derogatory labels on those with differing
views.�
To understand the etymology of this new word, you
should know that the Indo-European root of the word �reason� is �ar,� which
means �to fit together.� Derivatives include words such as �army,�
�harmony,� and �arithmetic.� In other words, one who is able to reason
is one who is able to fit things together and make some sense out of
them. When coupled with the familiar suffix, �phobia,� which means
�inordinate fear,� you have this word, �arophobia.� Thus my
counsel: Don�t be an arophobe.
I�ll share another quick story to exemplify an
occasion when I believe use of this word would have been appropriate.
A couple of months ago I was invited to be a guest on a one-hour radio talk
show originating in Austin, Texas and accessible nationwide over the
internet. I joined the broadcast via telephone.
The one other guest on the show was in studio,
I�ll call him Steve, a homosexual man who with his partner was trying to
adopt a child. Steve was an attorney there in Austin and was active in
the community in promoting a homosexual political agenda. The recent
Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas on sodomy was part of the
discussion, as was a possible federal marriage amendment and adoption by
same-sex couples.
During the discussion on adoption, Steve asserted
in passing that potential fears relating to pedophilia among homosexuals
were unfounded and that there were no differences between homosexual couples
and heterosexual couples. Being aware of several studies that
challenge this assertion, I thought it needful to share them. As I did
so, Steve immediately became emotionally charged and began shouting
irrationally into the microphone, �Liar! Liar! Liar!
Liar!� Although I could hear his voice over the telephone, I could
also hear my own and therefore just kept talking.
Others listening to the show later told me that
his voice completely drowned mine out, and that my level voice could only be
heard when he took a breath. When I stopped speaking, and he stopped
shouting, the host of the show attempted to make a reconciliatory statement
and broke for commercials. Although a man practiced in rational
argument, Steve�s only response had been to abandon reason and attack the
messenger. Although I never met the man personally, I am left to
conclude that Steve is arophobic.
