The T-Word

In the wake of the London bombings, the BBC has been catching some flak for its use of the word "terrorism".

The BBC's editorial guidelines state that its journalists should "try to avoid the term, without attribution". It's a policy which many have scorned as unduly PC, particularly given the BBC's reluctance to describe Palestinian suicide bombers as terrorists.

Unfortunately, after last Thursday's attacks in London, the BBC forgot its own policy and started using the T-word in its early reports on the attacks. Unsurprisingly, it was accused of having double standards. As a result, it has now re-edited some of its coverage to avoid labelling the perpetrators as "terrorists".

This is ridiculous. Terrorism is commonly understood to be the use (or threat) of violence against civilians in order to use the fear generated to attain a political or ideological goal. The London bombings were clearly terrorism. Palestinian suicide bombings against Israeli civilians are clearly terrorism. Conversely, attacks against American troops in Iraq are clearly not (I'm not sure that any attack against a military target ever can be).

The word "terrorism" does not carry emotional or value judgements. It's a straightforward concept. Even if you agreed with the bombers' goals, the London attack would still be an act of terrorism. The BBC should stop pussyfooting around and call it what it is.

Comments

[david on 12.07.05 at 18:07]

what is the world coming to! next we'll be calling them freedom fighters!

[Two Cent Charlie on 12.07.05 at 18:24]

Or inviting the Terrorists to Tea?

[Martin on 12.07.05 at 18:27]

I guess if one can be serious about this, then one would say that the BBC has always been somewhat PC, usually to ensure the level of criticism from around the world is kept to a minimum.

Whilst their guidlines do not allude to this, it is true that we often use words without thinking, and I suspect the Beeb spends hours and hours trying to "get it right".

In the Beeb's defence, it is not quite as daft as the political correctness of years ago when "man hole" covers in the street were renamed "person hole covers" in certain London Boroughs. Plus the one that infuriates me still today where it has become "The Chair" or "Chairperson", particularly when someone says..."Madame Chairperson".

Now that is crass!

Interesting thought...if I were to blow up the PLP and UBP offices here...would I be a terrorist?

Looking at a few of the recent posts, I guess I could be a saviour. Only kidding guys!

[Two Cent Charlie on 12.07.05 at 18:34]

"the Beeb's"

Typo Martin? :)

[Martin on 12.07.05 at 18:49]

TCC...

Good question. BUT - is it a typo?

Surely, apostrophy s means "of the Beeb"?

[Two Cent Charlie on 12.07.05 at 19:02]

Of course you are quite correct but I forsook that
as poetic license. By the way is that where the expression "Boob Tube" comes from?

[jake on 12.07.05 at 19:39]

I agree with you.

I am enjoying this discussion on topics that do not directly go back to Bermuda from time to time.

You may enjoy writing us on a number of subjects, Phil that touch on world events, business, sports, politics.

The other guy who complained was a bit full of it.

[Martin on 12.07.05 at 20:23]

TCC...

No - but that's one hell of a derivation!!

[Hemingway on 12.07.05 at 21:01]

It's nice to know that all those whining, tree-hugging P.C. journalism majors I went to university with now have real jobs, apparently.

[Terry on 13.07.05 at 09:23]

Blowing up the PLP & UBP Offices is a great idea. They should be blown up with a lot of angry voices and hot air. Some of their members are extremists from the past, and carrying on their Socialist Garbage.

Whether it is spelt with a T. in English or any other letter in a foriegn language, it is simply deplorable. Extremists are uninformed brainwashed radicals. I could not and would not blow myself up. Hell, I am a sissy, and couldnot handle seven Virgins. I can hardly handle my Wife of 35 years. The Pen is mightier than the sword and the Vote ain't too far behind.

As long as these Terrorists enjoy the company of associates with the same agenda, we may limit their targets but I doubt we will ever stop them in my lifetime. I am still waiting for them to do the same in the USA. (poor choice of wording Terry) but you get my drift. The sleepers are sleeping, and when the alarm clock goes off I pray that we can do our best to turn it off or silence it before they awake. Gonna help some Vets today. It helps me heal my own self imposed ideas and short commings.

A great day to all.

[H Reardon on 13.07.05 at 09:27]

"Conversely, attacks against American troops in Iraq are clearly not"

I'm not sure what you would then call today's attack in Baghdad where American soldiers were handing out candy to children and terrorists drove an explosive laden truck into the crowd killing 27, only one of which was a soldier, and most were children.

If most of you call that "freedom fighting" I can see why we have such a disagreement on Iraq.

What do you call attacks on Iraqi police stations if not terrorist attacks?

[Cancundreaming on 13.07.05 at 09:54]

I like the general caution of the BBC. You say they’re being PC and I say they’re being cautious, and isn’t this how we want media organizations to act? People take the BBC’s word as truth and that’s a fairly significant power and it comes with certain responsibilities, ahem Fox. But in this case I agree with Limey I think they have come to the wrong conclusion, but I don’t mind them stepping back from time to time and reflect on how they present news and facts.

[Martin on 13.07.05 at 09:58]

"Couldn't handle seven virgins..."

Kinda reminds me of my home in the UK, where it is alleged that there are 4 women for every man.

I swear some guy had 8!

It's a nice way to go Terry.

[Murdoch on 13.07.05 at 11:56]

You are missinig the point completely.

It is not about the word "terrorism" or about being PC or "pussyfooting" around.

Rather it is about all the terror suspects, all four which are now in custody, are BRITISH, BORN AND RAISED.

When things hit this close to home and are carried out by one of your own, one must downplay the terminology to steadfast the masses.

That is why the BBC, as well as every other British mainstream outlet has changed their terminlogy.

[Diane on 13.07.05 at 12:20]

"Couldn't handle seven virgins..."

Or is it really white raisins....see quote regarding a N.Y. times article:

A Raisin in the Koran
A March 4 New York Times article titled "Scholars Scrutinize the Koran's Origin" mentions a forthcoming new study, "The Syro-Aramaic Reading of the Koran," by a German academic writing under the pseudonym of Christoph Luxenberg.
Luxenberg, a scholar of ancient Semitic languages, argues that the Koran has been misread and mistranslated for centuries. His work, based on the earliest copies of the Koran, maintains that parts of Islam's holy book are derived from pre-existing Christian Aramaic texts that were misinterpreted by later Islamic scholars who prepared the editions of the Koran commonly read today. So, for example, the virgins who are supposedly awaiting good Islamic martyrs as their reward in paradise are in reality "white raisins" of crystal clarity rather than fair maidens.... The famous passage about the virgins is based on the word hur, which is an adjective in the feminine plural meaning simply "white." Islamic tradition insists the term hur stands for houri, which means "virgin," but Luxenberg insists that this is a forced misreading of the text. In both ancient Aramaic and in at last one respected dictionary of early Arabic hur means "white raisin."

[Two Cent Charlie on 13.07.05 at 12:29]

Now there's a good "raisin" to go kill yourself.

So so sorry, my moist humblest apologies, easy pickings I'm afraid.

[Diane on 13.07.05 at 12:34]

Two Cent Charlie,
Full marks to you....that was great !! You are very funny.....

[Terry on 13.07.05 at 12:38]

Diane, with all due respect, I don't care what hur means. White, Black, Onions, Raisins, Curried Goat.

So they are looking for raisins? Go to the dam grocery store, or steal them from your neighbour. Don't kill because you want raisins, or whatever they think they might get as a reward for killing innocent lives. Misinterpretation is one thing, applying it is another.

I respect all Religions, it's the assholes who use it for a cause that I don't have time for and neither should you my friend.

Raisins?

What about a loaf of White Bread or Black Bread.
I must go, gotta start doing drugs or something. I ain't right 90% of the time, but this Guy in Luxenburg or whatever needs a hur.....

[Two Cent Charlie on 13.07.05 at 12:49]

Easy there Terry. Don't want to shoot the messenger so to speak. Diane's just passing along some interesting info.

[Terry on 13.07.05 at 13:00]

Not my intent 2 cent. Maybe the Koran Publishers should do something about it. Then again, the Spiritual leaders. Maybe they lost their Marbles, raisins don't roll well you know.

With respect, the messenger brings knowledge but not a solution as what to do with raisin grabbers, or a furture in raisin distribution. Seems like it's there since, well you all know the dates..................

[Diane Lindenberger on 13.07.05 at 13:31]

Terry,
You misunderstood my intent...I was just mentioning this fact in a kind of ironic, Monty Python way....I hate these dip-shits just as much as you do! My cousin, who is a New York city special task force police officer, was almost killed by these morons on 9/11 when he assisted firefighters getting people out of the World Trade Center.

[Two Cent Charlie on 13.07.05 at 13:42]

Terry,

Solutions are going to be pretty hard to come by. To say the least we are dealing with a very scary mentality.

Regarding: Murdoch

"Rather it is about all the terror suspects, all four which are now in custody, are BRITISH, BORN AND RAISED.

When things hit this close to home and are carried out by one of your own, one must downplay the terminology to steadfast the masses."

Terror Suspects, Terrorists, Murderers or whatever they might prefer to be called they certainly should not be considered Martyrs or Fredom Fighters. These people are fighting a war that is in their heads. In reality they are free to pretty much carry on as they like when it comes to religious ideolgy as long as it doesn't cause harm to others. The fact that the spiritual leaders will openly preach suicide bombings as OK simply galls me. That they are allowed to amazes me.

[The Limey on 13.07.05 at 13:54]

Reardon

I'm not sure what you would then call today's attack in Baghdad where American soldiers were handing out candy to children and terrorists drove an explosive laden truck into the crowd killing 27, only one of which was a soldier, and most were children.

If the point of that attack was to kill Iraqi civilians in an attempt to turn them against the Americans, I'd call it a terrorist attack. If the point of the attack was to kill the soldiers in that Humvee then it was not, regardless of the collateral damage.

Either way, it was still a horrific attack.

What do you call attacks on Iraqi police stations if not terrorist attacks?

The Iraqi police are fighting with the Americans. They're trying to kill insurgents and so probably ought to expect retaliatory attacks. So I don't see how you could describe an attack against them as terrorism. From the insurgents' point of view, they're enemy combatants.

[Terry on 13.07.05 at 15:06]

Diane, thanks for informing me about What you meant. I appreciate the humour but we are dealing with a serious depbate/blog/opinion. There are a lot of assholes on this blog that do nothing but 'self service. There are a lot of Posters on Limeys website that have given me food for thought and have really opened my mind of differant aspects to all of what Limey wants us to respond too or make comment about.

A lot of the Posters make more sense than the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC,CNN,CBS etc.

When I read them, I try to invisage and understand where they are comming from. 80% is common sense and logic and I am glad that I can participate in some of these because after all these months there seems to be a common ground of understanding and how to resolve these questions and situations. (Lord what a sentence).

Basically, through my ramblings, I am just saying that I am glad we have the oportunnity to share our feelings and thoughts.

Limey is correct on his opinion about attacking Iraqi's and American Armed Forces. I don't always agree with him but his statement is correct in my View, and views are like you know what, Everybody...........

Monty python? If I want a laugh, I watch CNN. Monty has nothing to do with this Post.

Best wishes.

[Diane on 13.07.05 at 16:02]

Terry,
RE:
"Monty (Python) has nothing to do with this Post."

Thank you for reminding me that this is a very serious blog. Guess you better remind Two Cents not to make any more jokes about: "Now there's a good "raisin" to go kill yourself." Seems to me that if you've lost your sense of humor when dealing with serious subjects, then you've lost your sense of humanity too. A good laugh is what keeps us sane. Humor releases stress and gets us through the most horrific situations, even terrorism.

[Two Cent Charlie on 13.07.05 at 16:15]

Diane,

So true. Now twice you've complimented me. I guess a thank you is in order.

[Terry on 13.07.05 at 16:20]

Thanks Diane. You are correct when you say a good laugh keeps us sane.I have and never will loose my sense of Humanity. Tell Two cents yourself. A good laugh would be if Limey posted some of my stupid comments, which he thinks are irrevliant. He allows some things, but will not allow an unbiased little bit of humour. In a Month I will be starting a Web Site about opinions. I have heard that no-one will go to my site because they are not heard and are on every other site.

Another statistic:-

Fight on Terrorism,

Terrorists 1

Anti:- 0

Lets go for the double header..................

[oed-it on 13.07.05 at 16:49]

Brewe'rs dict of modern phrase and fable (2000 edtion)

boob tube--an expression of two meanings, ...TV set, or a woman's tight-fitting strapless top, encasing the boobs or breasts. it is likely the latter sense arose in the 1970s as a pun on the former, which dates from the 1950s

[oed-it on 13.07.05 at 16:52]

The term boob tube connotes an electronic wet nurse that feeds kids with drivel while their parents are too busy at work. In one version of the etymology, the boob in the phrase is said to have originated from bobo, Spanish

[H Reardon on 13.07.05 at 17:34]

"If the point of the attack was to kill the soldiers in that Humvee then it was not[terrorism], regardless of the collateral damage.

The Iraqi police are fighting with the Americans. They're trying to kill insurgents and so probably ought to expect retaliatory attacks."

Posted by the Limey

When the mission is infiltrating an insurgent controlled area through the use of force, I agree. Standing on the street, handing out candy, no.

The main mission at this point is security--protecting ordinary Iraqis from these thugs. Blowing up Iraqi citizens lined up to get a job protecting their country and new found freedoms is terrorism. Blowing up a police station that is no immediate threat is terrorism.

Trying to get into the mind of the insurgent to determine his intent is not necessary. If the insurgent is under signifcant immediate threat, then it is not terrorism. Without the threat, it is premeditated murder and terrorism.

[Steve Moffat on 13.07.05 at 18:35]

I hate that word..insurgent....were the French Resistance called insurgents during ww2 when they blew up German stuff???

[Two Cent Charlie on 13.07.05 at 19:48]

Thanks to oedit.
Apologies to the Beeb.