Language,symbols, and the Nebraska Councils of Defense

The issue of language within the United States continues to be a matter of contention. Southwestern states, such as Arizona and California, currently wrestle with matters of English as the official language and setting limits upon bilingual education. Plaintiffs and defendants in court cases will communicate emotionally, forcefully and articulately, before the bench and in the public media, defending the moral and constitutional aspects of their beliefs. In these exchanges, the management of symbols most assuredly will be utilized to provide legitimacy. These are not the first incidents relating to language concerns and the manipulation of symbols. During and after World War I, the war to “make the world safe for democracy,” the issue of state sanctioned language was already being considered. This study will examine the issue of language, and the use of three classifications of symbols—myths, metaphors and scenarios—to evaluate the paradoxical attitudes and actions of the Nebraska State and County Councils of Defense during an era of perceived crisis.