If you don’t follow Teju Cole (@tejucole) on Twitter, you’re regularly missing out on some of the best pithy social commentary on the web. Last night, he tweeted a long series of words and their true (but usually unspoken) interpretations in public discourse. I’ve given it the hashtag #TweetingBetweenTheLines.
The result was hilarious and devastatingly smart. Here are some of my favorites.
1. Me, by association; you, if you agree.
SMART. Any essay that confirms your prejudices.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
2. Good to “stand up for” / hide behind.
CHILDREN. The only justification for policy. Always say “our children.” The childless have no interest in improving society.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
3. Be all, end all.
BREAST. No joking matter. One glimpse on television sufficient to destroy a childhood. (See CHILDREN.)
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
4. Terra incognita.
AFRICA. A country. Poor but happy. Rising.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
5. To save the village.
VALUES. “We must do whatever it takes to preserve our values.” Said as a prelude to destroying them.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
6. People.
EGGS. Always say “you can’t make omelets without breaking eggs” whenever the subject of war comes up. — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
7. “Precision guidance.”
STRIKE. Always “surgical.” (See EGGS.) — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
8. Never let it go to waste.
CRISIS. Mention that it is composed of the Chinese characters for opportunity and danger. — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
9. Lie.
CLARIFICATION. Reversal. — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
10. Its only mode of transit.
FASCISM. Always preceded by “creeping.” — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
11. Better on paper.
FEMINISTS. Wonderful, in theory. — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
12. “And where are you from originally?”
ARTICULATE. Say “you’re very articulate” to young blacks, and then ask where they are from. — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
13. Only.
EVOLUTION. Only a theory. — Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
14. Like a wallet.
VIRGINITY. An obsession in Iran and in the olive oil industry. It can be lost, like a wallet.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
15. Mysterious, possibly scary.
COMMUNITY. Preceded by “black.” White people, lacking community, must make do with property.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 27, 2013
16. Baffling, also possibly scary .
CHINESE. Wonder what they’re thinking.
— Teju Cole (@tejucole) August 26, 2013
17. Peace.
The whole list is well worth reading.
Bonus: THIS.