They're Not Tories!
In a recent word study, my friends and I pondered the root of the word "Tory". Too often, there are parts of our vernacular, our vocabulary, that we use, without knowing what they mean. I'm a bit of a Cliff Claven*, in that I like to be able to answer the question, "What does that mean?" It turns out that word "Tory," as used in reference to a member or adherent of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada has ties to the word "pergatory". The connection was that historically, the party was tied to catholics, and since pergatory represents a key difference between Catholic and Protestant ideology, the word "tory" became a label.

So now, we have a new party, with an old nickname, which is doubly incorrect. First, the PC party no longer exists. If the new party is made up of "Tories" and Alliance MP's, then it's incorrect to call all of them "Tories" now. Also, much of the hype surrounding the Conservative Party of Canada, is that they are dangerously full of fundamentalist Christians (implying Protestant).

This wouldn't be an issue, except that last night listening to some of the results, more than one reporter referred to the "Tories". Sorry folks, but that term is now obsolete.

   [ posted by William @ 2:37 PM ]