Pixelated Semantics

Language Abuses

For your edification, a torrid rightwing pseudo-analysis of linguistic issues - "Prison Abuse, Language Abuse" - where the author seeks to marginalise abuse in Iraq (the torture "amounts to a day in the life of a fraternity pledge"), while venting his disgust at the words used by politicians ("the true retribution will ultimately result from the utterings of a political class programmed to take the easiest, most politically expedient paths"). It is worse, apparently, to "devalue words like horrific and appalling" than to commit war crimes such as torture and rape.

There is also discussion evolving of a "smoking frame" in the Berg affair: was he killed in Abu Grahib by Americans? Investigation has highlighted some interesting anomolies in the video of his death. A weblog has the lead on this, unsurprisingly. (Berg was filmed wearing an orange jumpsuit, and sitting on a white plastic chair: both these artefacts are redolent of Abu Grahib and US prisons in general.) There are claims of "proof" that the film of Berg and abuses at AG were from the same camera.

Meanwhile, the ABC reports that "a senior Israeli cabinet member has compare the destruction of Palestinian homes in Rafah refugee camp to Nazi atrocities against Jews during the Holocaust" - and further describing the policy of demolishing Palestinian homes as "inhumane and liable to lead to war crimes charges against Israel". One senses a growing discomfort in Israel as to how the rest of the world percieves their actions.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 10:26 am ::