---

IN THESE DARK, UNSETTLING TIMES, YOU GOTTA KEEP UP WITH THE LINGO.

Published on May 9, 2025

by Edward M. Gómez

As our special package of articles looking at the mood, atmosphere, impact, and meaning of the dystopian times much of the world is now passing through gets under way, we offer this timely lexicon.

In the series of articles to come, artists and other thinkers will share their thoughts and creative productions related to the theme of the current, unfathomable moment in which countless millions of members of the human family are feeling scared and besieged as power-mad strongmen make nonstop war, including the carrying out of genocide, and do all they can to destroy democracy and ignore human rights.

These are dark, unsettling times, in which many people, in many different parts of the world, are seeking ways to cope with drastic change and upheaval, and are struggling to survive.

Now, together, let’s learn our dystopian ABCs.

A is for autocracy,
when strongmen rule the roost.

B is for big bribery,
which gives those thugs a boost.

C is for corruption,
a crooked leader’s game.

D is for deception,
a con man’s stubborn aim.

E is for expulsion:
They might send you away.

F is for “We’re fucked, man.
There ain’t much more to say.”

G is for “Get out now!”,
if fleeing you can do.

H is for my hideout.
There’s room for me and you.

I is for ignorance.
It pays to know not much.

J is for the jailhouse —
for journalists and such.

K is for kleptocracy;
the thieves are in control.

L is for “Let’s wonder
’bout just how much they stole.”

M is for militias
and bloody civil war.

N’s for nihilism,
when all this is no more.

O is for oppression,
which comes in many forms.

P is for perversion
and crushing of all norms.

Q is for quack science,
which, buoyed by liars, thrives.

R is for resistance:
We’re fighting for our lives.

S is for the System:
We know it’s breaking down.

T is for the tyrant,
who runs its like a clown.

U is for united,
the way resisters stand.

V is for the vicious,
who terrorize the land.

W is for workers,
by fascists always screwed.

X means nasty messages,
which do more harm than good.

Y is for the yes men,
who kiss Dear Leader’s ass.

Z is for the zealous,
digging out of this morass.