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| Times dilemma: When to call "terrorists" terrorists |
| 2008-12-15 |
| WHEN 10 young men in an inflatable lifeboat came ashore in Mumbai last month and went on a rampage with machine guns and grenades, taking hostages, setting fires and murdering men, women and children, they were initially described in The Times by many labels. They were "militants," "gunmen," "attackers" and "assailants." Their actions, which left bodies strewn in the city's largest train station, five-star hotels, a Jewish center, a cafe and a hospital -- were described as "coordinated terrorist attacks." But the men themselves were not called terrorists. Many readers could not understand it. "I am so offended as to why the NY Times and a number of other news organizations are calling the perpetrators 'militants,' " wrote "Bill" in a comment posted on The Times's Web site. "Murderers, or terrorists perhaps but militants? Is your PC going to get so absurd that you will refer to them as 'freedom fighters?' " |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #7 DoDo, I think that shows an amazing clarity of analysis. And when da boy becomes commander in chief, they will once again be terrorists. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-12-15 23:56 |
| #6 ION "FREEDOM FIGHTING/WAR-ARMY OF LIBERATION" PCORRECTNESS, WORLD MIL FORUM > NEPAL FORMALLY REQUESTS THE RETURN OF ONE-THIRD OF ITS FORMER TERRITORY NOW HELD BY INDIA [lost after Nepalese-British War, Treaty], PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY FORCES IN TIBET SHOULD BE IN CHARGE/CONTROL OF SOUTHERN TIBET AGZ INDIA + INDIA IS BESIEGED: CHINA NEXT TO RISING, EXPLOSIVE "INDIA POWDER KEG". |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-12-15 22:40 |
| #5 Funny, I was just sitting here trying to figure out exactly the term "Vagrant". |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-12-15 16:44 |
| #4 "I do not think it is possible to write a set of hard and fast rules for the T-wordsÂ…" Because we all know the NYT is loath to use politically loaded terms. You knowÂ…like the other T-wordÂ…torture. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2008-12-15 14:49 |
| #3 Is anyone suprised? The NYT and other media has been giving their allies cover for years. Anyone remember Beslan? Where 'hostage takers' and 'gangsters' stormed that school in Russia? The MSM really stretched itself to give them the cover they needed - and still haven't mentioned the bayonetted babies or raped pre-teen girls and boys. Nor did they ever mention that each of the 'hostage takers' were And yes I do think it is a deliberate act on the part of the media. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2008-12-15 12:55 |
| #2 The stupidity of journalists never cease to amaze me. Attacking a civilian without any motive is terror. If an organisation or a country makes that a policy then that organisation is terrorist. |
| Posted by: Uleck Ghibelline9225 2008-12-15 12:44 |
| #1 Terrorists were militants because Bush was fighting them. They'll be terrorists again if they oppose Obama. I suggest rereading 1984 and Brave New World. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2008-12-15 12:24 |