Sticks and stones might break our bones, but words, in particular antonyms, will certainly destroy us.

A war is breaking out, a conflict of opposing opinions centered around the acceptance of the division created by the antonym. While one side sees a necessity in the antonym, the opposing faction sees the words as destructive.

The latter identifies the antonym as a device that divides cultures, societies, and families due to the words’ decisive differences.

A recent event held in East Dover, Vermont, the free-thinking organization better known as The Liberation of Thoughtless Minds Coalition or (LTMC) presented the argument against the antonym.

Antonyms, in the LTMC’s opinion, create difference and an extreme divide among the population.

“This part (the anonym) of the English language is tearing us apart,” exclaimed Neil Burgess, an original member of the LTMC.

His sentiments were shared with the vast majority of the attendees, evident by the group’s t-shirts promoting anti-antonym.

“The antonyms are out of control!” the group chanted between speakers.

LTMC does not have an issue with all anonyms.

“We are fine with Complementary and Graded anonyms,” exclaimed David Delany, the acting president of the LTMC, “we only have an issue with the relational antonyms.”

According to the LTMC website’s FAQ page, the group does believe that opposites can exist, but the group is opposed to opposites being a necessity.

“If we eradicate relational anonyms from our language, we will eradicate prejudice and racial inequality from our lives,” Delany announced to an exuberant response from those in attendance.

“Relational antonyms lead to war and social injustice.”

“Without a master, there will be no servant; without borrow, there will be no lend, no slavery to man or money.”

Delany extended his rhetoric by proclaiming, “Anonyms have created the institutions that have led to destruction, the pathway to misery is pathed with anonyms.”, he shouted under the deafening roar of the crowd.

The LTMC acknowledges that the mission of exiting misery and division from society by removing relational antonyms will not be an easy task.

During a short break-out session, I sat down with Mr. Delany to discover more about the LTMC’s mission and the struggles to get more people on board.

“Our biggest struggle is pre-fixes,” Delany confesses.

“Any English speaker has the ability to create his or her own antonyms simply by adding a prefix to over one million words.

“A simple in-, un-, non-, etc. upfront will create opposition – Will create division.”
“We attempt to stay ahead of the antonym, but we find they (the antonyms) are growing each day exponentially.

The LTMC has, they believe, found a way to stay ahead of the antonym.

Delany explains, “We have created software that continually monitors social and political issues globally. An algorithm combines the identified issues with all possible combinations of antonyms and produces a report of future oppositions.”

“We can see the future.”

“We are continually adding antonyms to our list (found on the LTMC’s website) of the most detrimental words to the advancement of a peaceful society.”

Delany does admit that, if the LTMC is successful, peace with come with a price.

“To rid our lives of hate, we must lose love,” Delany expresses with a grim but confident tone and adds, “within a few generations, without the words, the emotions will come to pass.”