What's in a word? Life and death in this case. So nothing to worry about.

[ish mailian]

We've all always agreed with Joseph's defense of the environment, the
victims of American wars, his attack on Capitals greed etc., but the word,
the word, the word. Sticks and stones and words can harm us, but I can't
quite accept that poisoning the water supply of a village, town, or city is
as toxic as refusing to use the T word, or using it.

Language is important and powerful. Why sometimes the pen may be mightier
than the sword. But most times, especially for those on the receiving end,
sticks in the eye and stones on the head and toxic waste in the water
supply, hurt a lot more than the names we give these offenses.

Why should the offended care what one calls it as long as it stops. Calling
it an act of terror, given the overuse and abuse of the word, probably does
more harm than good.

The reversal in the use of the term that Chomsky notes is worth thinking
about, but not for long. As Chomsky admits, he critiques the mainstream
media's use and abuse of language because it's easy.

The hard part is changing what governments do or getting them to do what is
just or right. And, of course, language will be, must be right in the
middle of that hard part, but it shouldn't be such a sticking point, such a
a debate. We can solve problems and communicate without such controversial
and inflammatory words. Getting stuck on a word. What a drag. I recall
reading about how George Mitchell had to sneak a night's sleep in peole's
houses in Ireland because if anyone knew where he was spending the night or
with what family it would endanger his mission of peace.  How absurd. Words
didn't make the peace, but they often prevented it. What made the peace was
the will, the will to give future generations peace, or at least a better
world, not one bogged down in the old language and the old hatred and
disputes. The battle of the books is an intellectual exercise one that is
quite remote from the reality of ordinary people the books purport to
defend and define. T
However, the legal use of language that puts words like terrorism and
genocide on the books so that people can be compensated, protected, others
punished, is not mere sophistry, but important because of the consequences,
that may or not be addressed unless a legal definition is applied. The
legal use will protect the weak and punish the abusers, but again, it's not
the word or words that matter but that something is done.

Well, I'm done with this one too, Joseph, Thanks.



On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 11:48 AM, Keith Davis <kbob42 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Wholehearted agreement.
>
> On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 11:43 AM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
>
>> I have one final paragraph that I hope will be my last on this topic. It
>> again resorts to that old trick of presenting an actual example of common
>> usage, then asking a few questions.
>>
>> One common use of the word terrorism by the US government which has taken
>> on quasi-legal status is eco-terrorism. This is a particularly orwellian
>> and  clearly political use of language. Who and what are the great threats
>> to the ecosystem?  Why are species disappearing, why is the ocean getting
>> more acidic, where are the oil spills, groundwater pollution and nuclear
>> waste contamination originating. Is this the result of those designated
>> eco-terrorists, or is it mining companies, oil drillers, industrial
>> clearcutting, addiction to fossil fuels supported by massive bribery that
>> is devastating the planet? Did eco-terrorists kill Ken Sarawiwa, are they
>> responsible for the hundreds of environmental activists killed every year.
>> How does terror result when people are filmed beating animals, or when they
>> are released  from captivity? This is a good example of what happens when
>> you give a word to the FBI and corrupt politicians. Who are the
>> conservatives who actually want to conserve  an intact ecosystem?  As far
>> as I am concerned this corrupt use of language is as toxic as the frack
>> juice being poured into the deep aquifers of holy mother earth.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -
>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>>
>
>
>
> --
> www.innergroovemusic.com
>
>
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