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A Word With Ways

Reader comment on item: [Beslan Atrocity:] They're Terrorists - Not Activists

Submitted by Lisa Nyberg (United States), Sep 8, 2004 at 00:06

I too am disgusted with the oh so politically correct jargon used to describe cold blooded killers of innocents. Our local newspaper did journalistic cartwheels trying hard not to call the child killers in Russian anything pejorative. It was also quick to
try to justify the actions of the terrorists by commenting on past transgressions against Chechens. The victim is blamed for his or her fate.

Please keep calling this to the attention of both the media and to readers of the media.

Lisa Nyberg
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Reader comments (175) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Pakistan News... [8 words]Pakistan NewsApr 28, 2011 06:39184635
Silence is a weapon too - Reply [133 words]SlimSep 4, 2005 09:1225469
Silence is a weapon too [194 words]James.R.EdwardsAug 25, 2005 09:0125097
BBC's discovery of Terrorism [156 words]Rob JamesJul 11, 2005 18:0923361
Civilian casualties [96 words]Cheryl YoungNov 12, 2004 23:3918354
Interesting but ironic [101 words]Jasper InesOct 20, 2004 07:5517815
Fears [479 words]Joanne CottoneOct 13, 2004 08:3817625
"Freedom fighters"? Even they refer to themselves as "terrorists"! [200 words]alvin_dayOct 4, 2004 22:0817518
A courageous voice speaking out [117 words]Bhupendra BhartiOct 2, 2004 07:4817496
Terror is terror [34 words]TreekOct 1, 2004 16:5117491
Use the T-Word [289 words]Raphael Cohen-AlmagorSep 30, 2004 11:3617478
"Freedom Fighters" in Nicaragua? [118 words]John KeaganSep 30, 2004 01:3917471
NPR's Al Qaeda "Officials" [62 words]JohnSep 27, 2004 14:1517407
Intention [50 words]DaveSep 20, 2004 09:0417041
Savages? [221 words]Samuel P. PanuccioSep 20, 2004 03:4417040
Terrorism defined [87 words]DavidSep 19, 2004 11:2617029
One man's terrorist [51 words]Jerry NormoyleSep 18, 2004 00:2617022
Politcal Correctness Gone Berserk [87 words]Margaret BroomfieldSep 17, 2004 10:4017016
Canadian PC Media [146 words]Jeff BercovitchSep 16, 2004 19:4717013
Islam is THE problem [103 words]Hari IyerSep 16, 2004 01:1016998
Thank you for your Ignorance [218 words]KiranMar 7, 2009 02:4716998
Thank you, Daniel [15 words]Maria IvanovaSep 15, 2004 12:5616990
The Marxist Paradigm [357 words]Diane WolffSep 15, 2004 10:1316984
Author is an obscurantist [8 words]AndreMay 22, 2013 02:2816984
Terrorism is a tactic, not a movement [114 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Bill KeaneSep 15, 2004 03:2816975
Another idea, a term, but not for the terrorists as such [33 words]Nancy SutherlanSep 14, 2004 19:4516963
My thoughts exactly [35 words]Phaedra BagrationSep 14, 2004 18:4416957
"they're terrorists" [41 words]Steven JacobySep 14, 2004 06:3616938
Islamist origins? [36 words]Jake MorrisonSep 14, 2004 04:1916936
World journalists in Dhimmitude [79 words]Bhupendra BhartiSep 13, 2004 12:2016927
Euphemism [28 words]Edward ShortSep 13, 2004 11:2416923
Both ways [111 words]Malik MuhammadSep 12, 2004 23:4416918
Well done [8 words]Tsahi NivSep 12, 2004 15:4216913
Major Media: Non commital buzzwords [59 words]MarkSep 11, 2004 22:0916908
Maalot School - Beslan article redaction by AP [623 words]MitchSep 11, 2004 10:3616902
Bravo! [1 words]George KunSep 11, 2004 09:3216900
How true [126 words]Patrick WatkinsSep 10, 2004 21:4216897
Algeria...a real catastrophe [51 words]GeorgeSep 10, 2004 20:4016895
Activists, Indeed. [52 words]Barry MillerSep 10, 2004 17:3716894
Another term [13 words]Lawrence ShumanSep 10, 2004 17:0716893
Post article openswith the work "terrorists" [12 words]R. RoistacherSep 10, 2004 16:2216892
Point of View [87 words]Max EdisonSep 10, 2004 14:1916890
It's murder, even if the excuse is political. [18 words]Judith RachmaniSep 10, 2004 13:3016889
Terrorism is terrorism. Period. [67 words]Marcos BerensteinSep 10, 2004 08:2516885
Euphemisms for Terrorism [26 words]Arlinda DeAngelisSep 10, 2004 00:0116883
Perp(etrator)s [952 words]Ethel C. FenigSep 9, 2004 23:4816882
Gee, how come it's not terrorism when YOU bomb THEM? [74 words]Hugh DillonSep 9, 2004 19:4616880
Horror on both sides [63 words]ZhivagoSep 9, 2004 19:2016879
So you would define as terrorist anyone the Israelis shoot? [106 words]SamuelSep 9, 2004 19:1716878
Who followed the links? [110 words]soren veliceSep 9, 2004 19:0316877
What is Jemaah Islamiyah? [134 words]John SharpeSep 9, 2004 18:2216876
terrorism = (new) communism [95 words]SadiaSep 9, 2004 18:1216875
Freedom fighters [25 words]Tom StriniSep 9, 2004 15:3016872
Thank you [22 words]Louis M. SteinbergSep 9, 2004 13:2216869
There are other terrorists, too. [94 words]Peter J. HerzSep 9, 2004 12:5816868
Homicide Bombers: Let's call them what they are... [149 words]R. WilliamsSep 9, 2004 11:2816866
True Leaders Do Not Shirk Verbal or Physical Combat [183 words]Joe FeigSep 9, 2004 11:0116865
What would you call the Iran Contras? [74 words]J.Sep 9, 2004 09:5816864
"Terrorism" is not the clearest word itself [134 words]KirbySep 9, 2004 09:2916863
A commenter misses the point [70 words]Aubie ArrowSep 9, 2004 09:0216862
The Western Press Misleads Its Readers [334 words]Lawrence I. GouldSep 9, 2004 08:5316860
Victims or terrorists? A matter of semantics, perhaps? [110 words]P. OakleySep 9, 2004 07:3316859
PC and Terrorism [341 words]J.T FiddesSep 9, 2004 07:2316858
Newton's apple at last [175 words]PCSep 9, 2004 05:3416857
More political correctness [112 words]Toby BeckSep 9, 2004 04:5016856
Euphanisms have their place [161 words]RJ KennedySep 9, 2004 02:5316855
By any other name.... [164 words]Matt FyffeSep 9, 2004 01:0916851
I Was Just Following Orders [72 words]Jim JSep 8, 2004 23:5416850
Let's be fair [23 words]Alan RutkowskiSep 8, 2004 21:2816849
Right on target! [11 words]Robert GelberSep 8, 2004 21:1216848
Leftist Media [98 words]Samuel KarpovSep 8, 2004 20:5516847
'Militant' now means 'terrorist' [90 words]Howard PieletSep 8, 2004 20:1316846
Terrorists [2 words]Walter D'UllSep 8, 2004 19:4616845
My Favorite Term [6 words]KatieSep 8, 2004 19:2216844
Chechyna [154 words]HarrisonSep 8, 2004 18:5816843
A Terrorist By Any Other Name... [113 words]Sheldon TaftSep 8, 2004 17:4716840
Semantics are not important [70 words]paulinaSep 8, 2004 17:3216839
Civilization at Risk [544 words]Jim StollSep 8, 2004 17:2316838
proper definitions [362 words]NickSep 8, 2004 17:2216837
No sympathy for terrorists [43 words]Dick ShortSep 8, 2004 16:4716836
It's "Gang" on Radio New Zealand [49 words]Josh DuthieSep 8, 2004 16:4216835
Terror is graphic [34 words]Tom PerrinSep 8, 2004 16:3116834
Strategic bombing [92 words]KonradSep 8, 2004 16:3016833
On the use of language [62 words]Paul E PriceSep 8, 2004 16:2916832
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a mallard [69 words]Raghu DesikanSep 8, 2004 15:3916830
Flawed Reasoning [88 words]Justin LannoyeSep 8, 2004 15:2616829
"Commentaries,yours." [111 words]Mr. Sandy HaazSep 8, 2004 15:1716828
They're Terrorists- Not activists [216 words]Ken KinrichSep 8, 2004 15:1416827
They cannot sanitize this [143 words]Martin KalaydjianSep 8, 2004 14:3916826
George Washington, Terrorist [146 words]Scott RyanSep 8, 2004 14:2516825
Defining terrorism [110 words]Bjorn MerkerSep 8, 2004 14:1816824
1Reporting vs. storytelling [270 words]Rick DarbySep 8, 2004 13:5916823
Tyranny - wherever - is still tyranny. [220 words]TexposéSep 8, 2004 13:5116822
Obfuscation [38 words]John MaloneySep 8, 2004 13:3816820
Calling a Spade a Black Upside-Down Heart With a Tail [120 words]Marci MaysSep 8, 2004 13:3616819
Is "Terrorist" really just a description? [142 words]Arti PersaudSep 8, 2004 13:3016818
Terrorism = non-financial impersonal mayhem upon civilians [361 words]Jason JungreisSep 8, 2004 13:1116816
Re comment: "Who Gets To Choose?" [32 words]Rob ArsenaultSep 8, 2004 12:5616815
K. I. S. S. ITS ABOUT "WORDS" [91 words]Bob BreslauerSep 8, 2004 12:4616814
The Terrorism Scale [253 words]David GuySep 8, 2004 12:4016812
What's the complaint?? [22 words]Judy SteinSep 8, 2004 12:2316811
Its murder, even if the motive is political. [110 words]Lawrence M. DubinSep 8, 2004 11:5716810
Finally! [20 words]Zachary CarlinSep 8, 2004 11:5416809
What is Terrorism [113 words]rhona hotchkissSep 8, 2004 11:3116808
The real enemy [43 words]Ross CoxSep 8, 2004 10:5016805
Amen! [98 words]JasonnSep 8, 2004 10:3316804
Another term [11 words]William PapkeSep 8, 2004 10:3216803
But almost every article also uses TERRORIST [151 words]Brian HoustonSep 8, 2004 10:3216802
Political Correctness and the war on Terror [240 words]Rick MoranSep 8, 2004 10:0216801
Who gets to choose? [76 words]Robert DaySep 8, 2004 09:5316799
Desperados? [42 words]Aubie ArrowSep 8, 2004 09:4816798
Call them Mujihadeen instead of terrorists [124 words]DennisSep 8, 2004 09:1616796
Terrorists and "freedom fighters" [303 words]Tom MartinSep 8, 2004 09:1416795
EMET [36 words]Esther ElbazSep 8, 2004 09:1016794
This misses the point [166 words]Rich TaylorSep 8, 2004 07:0016790
TERRORIST AS SOCIAL TORTURERS [131 words]Alan RobertsSep 8, 2004 06:5316789
Terrorists or freedom fighters? [129 words]Sue VogelSep 8, 2004 05:4616787
Once again careful documentation and proof of a reality so many sense [159 words]Shalom FreedmanSep 8, 2004 05:0716784
Call them murderers [37 words]Ramesh RaghuvanshiSep 8, 2004 04:0716781
Thank You [16 words]Jack WynnSep 8, 2004 03:5116778
Terrorists, bandits, assassins, criminals [79 words]Octavio JohansonSep 8, 2004 03:4816777
One man's freedom fighter, Is another man's terrorist. [104 words]Charles Edward FrithSep 8, 2004 03:1116775
A Spade's a spade - dig? [132 words]Tony MoraSep 8, 2004 03:0316774
Euphemisms for terrorist [129 words]Melvyn RosensteinSep 8, 2004 02:5716773
A Miasma of Words [104 words]Jon MillerSep 8, 2004 02:3516772
Oh fercryin' out loud! [86 words]Anonymous CowardSep 8, 2004 01:5816771
A term more destructive than terrorist [228 words]Gilbert SimonsSep 8, 2004 00:4516770
A Word With Ways [85 words]Lisa NybergSep 8, 2004 00:0616769
NY Times Guilty on 9/1/04 [104 words]Reena SeltzerSep 7, 2004 23:3416768
More euphemisms [48 words]Harry BartonSep 7, 2004 23:1116766
Jihadists [69 words]Tim RobertsSep 7, 2004 22:5316765
Misnomers [33 words]Malia TaylorSep 7, 2004 21:4116763
Canada's coverage: how do you know? [464 words]Greg HanniganSep 7, 2004 21:2916762
Even the UN used the word "terrorist" [41 words]CHINGCHINGSep 7, 2004 21:2016761
Euphemisms in France [20 words]Tzvi TamariSep 7, 2004 21:0216760
Excellent Article [20 words]Bob RuggillSep 7, 2004 21:0116759
Selective sensitivity [128 words]Paul M.Sep 7, 2004 20:1516757
Euphemisms and action [201 words]Dr. Bill HayesSep 7, 2004 19:5416755
Euphemisms are for the Morally and Intellectually Braindead [102 words]Jeremy Dan FreedmanSep 7, 2004 19:3916754
Terrorism [70 words]S FinemanSep 7, 2004 19:2716753
terrorist euphemisms [25 words]Bruce KauffmanSep 7, 2004 19:0116751
Mainstream Press Bias [185 words]Michael LevineSep 7, 2004 18:5916750
1The meaning of "Terrorism" [105 words]Alan GreenSep 7, 2004 18:4916749
Ah, so [86 words]Gary GreerSep 7, 2004 18:3816748
Another One [7 words]GregSep 7, 2004 18:3616747
Definition of terrorism [40 words]Brian AndersonSep 7, 2004 18:2816746
Euphemisms for terrorist [139 words]Bob AlexanderSep 7, 2004 17:2916745
Semantics - execution and assassination [214 words]Peter SamuelSep 7, 2004 17:1916744
Language usage determines the way we think [86 words]Bernard KestenSep 7, 2004 16:5716741
The Right Word Is Important [46 words]Patrick BarronSep 7, 2004 16:4016739
The BBC sinks to a new low [36 words]Shedon SchorerSep 7, 2004 16:2816738
Definition of terrorist [45 words]Nathaniel BarrSep 7, 2004 16:0916736
Not only weakness, but sheer stupidity [23 words]George PlescovSep 7, 2004 16:0816735
Another home run [27 words]Frank MagnaniSep 7, 2004 16:0416734
Militants and Terrorists [298 words]David HarrisSep 7, 2004 15:3116732
Job well done [153 words]John W. McGinleySep 7, 2004 15:1416730
"Terrorists" [99 words]Walter RogoffSep 7, 2004 14:5216727
getting real! [23 words]M. MartinSep 7, 2004 14:3916726
Euphemisms: a humdinger [68 words]Allan GrantSep 7, 2004 14:2016724
Call them what they are. [16 words]Allan GrafmanSep 7, 2004 14:0916723
Let's be a little more specific... [43 words]Tobias MoyerSep 7, 2004 13:5416722
Baffled! [266 words]Bryan TaplitsSep 7, 2004 13:3516721
Failure to call a duck a duck [244 words]Donald W. BalesSep 7, 2004 13:3016720
What's in a word? [45 words]Michael ElvinSep 7, 2004 13:2916719
They're Terrorist Not Activists [87 words]Lisa MIchelsonSep 7, 2004 13:2916718
Down with synonyms [138 words]Michael ElvinSep 7, 2004 13:2216717
Call things as they are [281 words]Jean OuelletteSep 7, 2004 13:2116716
Correction of term [43 words]Marsha LivsonSep 7, 2004 13:1816715
Even "terrorist" is a euphumism -- they're "Muslim aggressors" [202 words]Maureen CoteSep 7, 2004 13:1216714
IDF demolishes house of militant who carried out terror attack near Itamar [175 words]Mladen AndrijasevicSep 7, 2004 13:1116713
We're fighting Islamists, not terrorism!! [156 words]Commander Roger JohnsonSep 7, 2004 13:0816712
Islamist terrorists by any other name is wrong. [40 words]bob finkSep 7, 2004 13:0416711
Terrorists~~not activists [26 words]R.WilsonSep 7, 2004 12:5416710
The t word; the M word [35 words]Ethel C. FenigSep 7, 2004 12:3516709
Definition of terror [34 words]Yirmeyahu Ben-David, Paqid 16, The NetzarimSep 7, 2004 12:0716708

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