Words Are Tools
No different than a hammer, a nail file or a screwdriver. They are the handles by which we comprehend and communicate ideas, concepts and intentions. The word atrocities is being bandied about quite loosely of late in describing the incidents at Abu Grhaib. It is not appropriate. No different than a hammer, a nail file or a screwdriver. They are the handles by which we comprehend and communicate ideas, concepts and intentions. The more precise the word - the more appropriate the tool -- the better the job gets done. One could conceivably drive a nail with a nail file, but it would not get a house built in a useful manner. The word atrocities is being bandied about quite loosely of late in describing the incidents at Abu Grhaib. It is not appropriate. Being made to sit/stand in an uncomfortable position for long periods is not an atrocity -- having your fingers cut off one by one from your hand tied to a board is an atrocity. Being embarrassed/humiliated with sexual context is not an atrocity -- being beheaded while people sing "Happy Birthday Saddam" is an atrocity. Having to watch your guards engage in sexual acts is not an atrocity -- being forced to wear a Superman costume and then being thrown off a four-story building is an atrocity. Bags over the head/blindfolding, being threatened, being smacked are not atrocities -- being scourged ninety-nine times is an atrocity. Having some grinning hillbilly girl point at your pee pee is not an atrocity -- being castrated without benefit of anesthesia is an atrocity. Video taping gas poisonings, especially of babies, is an atrocity, squared. I am not saying that the actions under investigation at ABu Ghraib are anything but wrong -- they are abuses. I am saying that the use of words creates perceptions. Faulty perceptions lead to faulty choices and action. What was photographed at Abu Ghraib is the same kind of activity that has become a part of our national humor. Think about it -- how many "don't pick up the soap" jokes have you heard about US prisons? Let's keep our perspective, here. Lynndie England is a perverted twit -- not a monster. ThanQ! Roger L. Simon who asks another good question
Posted by Claire on 05/16 at 05:45 AM
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