Should the Media Use the Word "Muslim" in Reference to Terrorists?
In the poll below this post, a large percentage of people felt that we’ve become too politically correct when it comes to profiling potential terrorists. And today, the Wall Street Journal quoted former Council on Foreign Relations President Les Gelb writing in the Daily Beast taking it a step further. His feeling is that as long as we use the word “terrorist,” without specifically mentioning “Muslim,” we take the responsibility away from that community to solve the problem. A longer version of his comments is in today’s Journal, but here’s a really interesting quote about the issue:
“The omission of the word “Muslim” usually stems from political correctness, the desire not to offend. On most occasions, this gloss does no great harm and can be overlooked. But the failure to nail the problem squarely by name causes grave difficulties: It impedes the process of finding realistic solutions. Specifically, it leads Washington to think of American solutions to terrorism more so than Muslim ones. It puts the greatest onus on American resources and actions, on our values and our philosophies—rather than on the great majority of moderate Muslims, their values, their religion, their culture, their concrete actions, and their getting involved at the ground level in the mud and muck. If the battle against Muslim terrorism is to be won, moderate Muslims will have to do the heavy lifting, and explain to us how we can best help them. If Americans and Westerners continue to take the lead, it will remain an “us vs. them” war.”
This make a lot of sense. I find it interesting that on those rare occasions when someone – no matter how wacked – commits a crime at an abortion clinic, there’s no hesitation by the media to label them as a “Christian.” But political correctness leaves them unable to mention “Muslim” when it comes to terrorism.
Why?
-
bygracenotmerit
-
artie terry
-
Raymond Luxury Yacht (pronounced Throatwobbler Mangrove)
