Thursday, April 7, 2022

Etymology

Medical vehicles are seen on Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Street following a reported shooting, April 7, 2022 (United Hatzalah)

Here's a language anomaly that linguists might

find particularly intriguing for a case study in 

how the manipulation of language carries a 

distinct underlay of 'what's in a word' messaging 

absorbed by the subconscious to satisfy a lesser 

designation of violence linked to an ancient antipathy. 

Take for example the use of the descriptive: 'terrorist'

reserved for acts that fall clearly into that category 

aptly describing violence whose purpose is to 

fearfully intimidate, to inspire and to instill fear 

through threats and acts of lethal violence. Those 

who scheme to terrorize a community, to destroy

its security and commit mass slaughter are by

their very hate-inspired actions and acts named

terrorists. Exceptions made and generally accepted

when there is little public sympathy for a long-

suffering ethnic/religious/cultural group infamously

targeted throughout history upon whom deadly

attacks are committed by 'gunmen' and 'assailants'

where the commission of violence by terrorists in

terminology reserved for others cannot be extended

for to do so would amount to recognition of their

indisputable human rights not relished by Jew-haters.

 

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