A wordy choice

1.  Chavez's opening sentence states that being proper and civil should not affect people's choice of words.

2.  Chavez used the word "bellicose" to express that politics has always been fueled by competition, which is sometimes aggressively hostile.  The choice of this word also supports her opinion on the importance and power of diction.

3.  Chavez emphasizes the importance of word choice while explaining how the impact and meaning of some words have changed with time.  I think the best example that Chavez uses to express the power of diction is when she writes about politic metaphors such as "a candidate 'took his best shot.'"  She explains how it does not mean he literally aimed a gun at his opponent.

4.  I completely agree with Chavez on the importance of diction.  The English language is very diverse and has many "tools" that help best convey a meaning or emotion.  One of the commonly misunderstood  language devices is the metaphor.  People often take the literal meaning that was stated instead of looking at the true intended expression.  Disallowing rhetorical devices would "deprive us of the ability to express ourselves fully".  These devices are meant to enrich our language, and without them, our expressions become diluted.  People sometimes think that the words themselves are the problem, but it is really their meaning that matters.  Some words are historic and literary.  Changing them would remove the authenticity of the literature.  Choosing the correct words is what makes thoughts unique.  Different words have different meanings, and to change a word will also change the meaning.