From time to time this country goes batcrap crazy over the language used to describe a situation…..some falsely attribute it to being “politically correct” an overused term for the last 8 years…..and then some of the mentally challenged will always lose their minds over what to call this situation or that…..a waste of time.
We are ass deep in another one of these silly debates……especially after the horrendous attack in Orlando…..the debate is what do we call the reason for the act……
(this article is in the Wall St. Journal….not one of my normal sources for accurate opinion pieces)……
Donald Trump says the Orlando attack is an example of “radical Islamic terrorism.”
Hillary Clinton said she’s willing to blame “radical Islamism” or “radical jihadism,” but doesn’t think that’s the point.
And President Barack Obama? He typically won’t use “Islam,” “Islamic” or “Islamism” as part of his description of terrorists.
The Orlando shooting has revived the long-running debate over how to refer to Islamist terrorists. The administration and allies have shied away from using the term “radical Islamic terrorism,” saying it serves no purpose but to alienate Muslims and fuel terrorists’ propaganda. But critics say the refusal to use the phrase is political correctness run amok, and gives the impression that the White House isn’t sure about who the enemy is.
Source: Radical Islamic Terrorism? Language Wars Flare Again – Washington Wire – WSJ
Sorry but this is a waste to time….the argument is lame and does it really matter what it is termed as…..I mean the people that died could not care less…..should not the discussion be on the act not the terminology?
But I understand if one has no idea of what they talk about then I guess a debate on terminology would make sense after all….
To some degree it does matter.
Until the root cause of an attack is known, it should ONLY be referred to as a HEINOUS act. After a complete and thorough investigation (actual intent and responsible person, party or affiliated group is identified) has been completed, well then the corresponding FEAR MONGERING component can be properly inserted into the equation.
RESULT: The FEAR factor has not been prematurely escalated to a level of International concern/attention.
So yes, I think it does matter how an attack is labeled … especially in the initial stages.
A murderous rampage by a nut case will suffice….
THis debate is a diversion…..it will continue and go back and forth….and in the end it will be a giant waste of time….chuq
Let’s be done with it and call them ‘blame labels’..
However,it is true that p.c.is stopping some people from voicing their opinions and that is a form of censorship…
I agree……some are just shy…..
That is a sweet way of putting it….some are fearful of not being accepted for their opinions/prejudices….et al….whatever it is, it needs to be vocalized….then work begins…..meanwhile,I must get back to the therapist’s couch/sofa!
So when the Nazis started their holocaust in the 1940s it would have been better to refuse to identify those responsible? Same stuff . . different times.
The end result was the horrific part….why is the title most important?: Does it solve the problem of deaths and after all that was the final result……
No title = No recognition of the danger . . . No recognition of the danger means death from the danger. Simple applied Math.
Applied math is a remedial course….if one cannot see the danger without labeling …then all is lost. The Nazis are getting a lot of press these days….but when applied to other situations it is a lame excuse…but whatever works.
Thank you for your comment. Your comments are always appreciated.
Most Nazis openly called themselves Nazis and wore uniforms declaring that fact. Nazi’s were really big on wearing symbols that visually identified friend & foe. If I recall, the Nazis even issued membership cards…that got you big discounts at Hugo Boss. (or a free trip to a “holiday camp”)
It’s “our side” that confused the situation by considering all Germans Nazis. Sure, it made it easier to kill them. But it wasn’t exactly a triumph for accuracy.
At the moment, I don’t remember who said this, but, it’s pretty accurate in response to today’s comment section on this post, to wit: ” In the beginning was the word. Then came the second word, and trouble came into the world, for, with it came syntax….”
We humans have a neurotic need to label everything; it’s how we make sense of our perceptions of the world. It doesn’t mean it’s a GOOD way to do so, it’s just the way we do it….
Everybody will perceive the same object/event differently, of course. Then, they start trying to talk about their impressions of that, and the circus begins….
Great fun….
gigoid. the dubious
Love it! And then semantics arrived and pissed on everything….chuq
There you go….
*grin*