Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

A set of beliefs that are evil but not insane

President Bush has used the highly contentious term 'Islamo-fascism' in a speech yesterday for the first time. Bush's description of 'a set of beliefs that are evil but not insane' carries a similar subtext.

According to Juan Cole, professor of modern Middle East and South Asian history at the University of Michigan 'Islam is a sacred term to 1.3 billion people in the world. It enshrines their highest ideals. To combine it with the word "fascist" in one phrase is a desecration and a form of hate speech.'

A Google search for use of the term confirms that it is most frequently used in proximity to hateful speech, particularly attacking 'liberal' (leftist) critics of the 'War on Terror'. For example;

'...liberals wrongly believe American supremacy, not tyrannical fascist dictators are the epitome of evil; it is with the tyrannical fascist dictators they side.'

Bush's use of the term sends a clear signal to arch-conservatives that he supports their extreme language and ideology at the expense of the left: it validates ignorance and bigotry.

Bush's little buddy Man of Steel also needs a language consultant, as he evidently cannot find a definition of 'corruption' that excuses his cash-for-votes deal with a renegade Tasmanian Forestry union. Public disclosure of an act that amounts to subversion of the electoral process does not make it any less a problem.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 10:31 am ::