Much of our personal and cultural perspective on the world is colored by the language in which our concepts and ideas are couched. Changing that language can therefore alter our attitudes about what we hear and see.
"Responsibility," for example, is a word with positive reverberations. It reeks of reliability, accountability, and self-control. It carries connotations of honesty, dependability, and courage.
So why have the media adopted the buzz phrase "claims responsibility" for the violent outrages committed by terrorists who cover their faces in cowardly anonymity, hide themselves behind innocent civilian populations, plot behind closed doors, and, in general, act totally irresponsibly?
If the media changes their terminology to "admits guilt" the concept itself changes dramatically. "Guilt" is a suitably pejorative notion to apply to murder. An admission of guilt clearly conveys the message that the perpetrators know wrong from right and have willingly made their hideous choice.
Regardless of the politics, culture, or religion involved in any dispute, no matter how complicated or divisive, there is the rational approach to resolution and there is the emotionally selfish, vicious, and vindictive response.
Terrorist groups of all persuasions have defined themselves as criminal by their heinous indifference to that most fragile quality: human life. Let's expose them for what they are and call a spade a spade.
Virginia Bola is a licensed clinical psychologist with deep interests in Social Psychology and politics. She has performed therapeutic services for more than 20 years and has studied the effects of cultural forces and employment on the individual. The author of an interactive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://drvirginiabola.blogspot.com
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..The problem of poverty in America comes as a surprise.... Read More
Each day the present geo-political reality confirms what The Tribulation... Read More
There are so many problems with our perceived perfect checks... Read More
Well many have complained that the FBI and CIA dropped... Read More
How do you feel about Terminator Seeds from Monsanto? I... Read More
How can any human being today, anywhere in this world,... Read More
Those of us hundreds of miles from ground zero sat... Read More
If someone wanted to farm future clones they would need... Read More
I would like to pose a question. I am unsure... Read More
Sodomy is against the law, yet goes on every day... Read More
The United States is losing its industrial capacity quite rapidly.... Read More
In 1966, Dr. Carroll Quigley, a professor of history at... Read More
Today we wish to examine a fallacy, or error in... Read More
You say, you want to help the Palestinians, but most... Read More
All government regulators or diplomat who are in high risk... Read More
Recently on C-SPAN, there were two gentlemen debating free trade... Read More
This is the third in a short series of four... Read More
The plight of whistleblowers ? those employees who sound the... Read More
Commission for Africa (CFA), one is made to understand is... Read More
Is Starbucks a monopoly? It fits all the definitions. Does... Read More
Most politicians are completely out to lunch and totally Machiavellian... Read More
When I was growing up, I actually considered a career... Read More
We are told by out leadership that we risk loss... Read More
In order to win the presidency in America, candidates must... Read More
Despite their signature on the Biological Weapons Convention of 1975,... Read More
cleaning help near Bannockburn ..The idea that the majority shows the will of the... Read More
I'm starting to feel squeezed by all the political correctness... Read More
We see today a fierce unspoken competition between trucks and... Read More
I applaud Monsanto for their R and D. I would... Read More
We know that the International Terrorists like the idea of... Read More
Are you happy with all this so-called security after 9-11?... Read More
Elliot Spitzer, recently said he wanted to drive a stake... Read More
The blogosphere has been jumping around the story like crazy... Read More
The TSA seems to have completely missed the ball at... Read More
The paper industry in the US is hurting. Due to... Read More
An interesting conversation that I thought I must share with... Read More
Q. Should the Government be concerned if the CPI rises... Read More
We have seen an increase in Snowbirds from Northern States... Read More
For years I have been amazed as I've listened to... Read More
Federal Regulations on Business Destroy America, these regulations are a... Read More
In the words of a secret agent who has signed... Read More
"Those who sacrifice essential liberty for temporary safety are not... Read More
On June 16, 1972, a security guard at the Watergate... Read More
De-classification of official documents have been a routine practice in... Read More
Why is it that every single thing government does; it... Read More
The most exciting event in Slovenia last week was when... Read More
With respect to the States' databases, you may not locate... Read More
Well having studying the need for decreasing America's dependence on... Read More
The devastating loss in case of Elliot Spitzer for NY... Read More
Wealth Distribution is often discussed at length in periodicals such... Read More
Political |