Comments on: Against ‘Ethnic Cleansing’

By: Getting back to roots: How I became a Semite | sydwalker.info

Getting back to roots: How I became a Semite | sydwalker.info — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:17:41 +0000

[...] Against ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ [...]

By: The Progressive Mind » Against “Holocausts” « Time to Think

The Progressive Mind » Against “Holocausts” « Time to Think — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:05:34 +0000

[...] The Australian blogger Syd Walker writes: [...]

By: Against “Holocausts” « Time to Think

Against “Holocausts” « Time to Think — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:31:54 +0000

[...] June 25, 2009 by Notsilvia Night The Australian blogger Syd Walker writes: [...]

By: dave hutsell

dave hutsell — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:29:42 +0000

ok Syd. thanks. just saw your comment on Gilad’s blog.
can you expand your comment on “genocide”?
‘preciate it.
dave

By: Paul T (Crash)

Paul T (Crash) — Sat, 09 May 2009 10:53:33 +0000

I agree in theory, and even in the relevance of evidence sited. However, one point is this, any language – all language is forever changing (evolving even). If an understanding of a geo-political action has changed it will be given a new word.

No-one at the time, it seems, had given a lot of thought to ‘naming’ the invasion by the tribes of South Asia into Europe – in the 11th – 12th, 13th-14 century.
Later they were known as the ‘Mongol hoards’ or ‘barbarian invasions’.

Today, it would be called ‘ethnic cleansing’ (the displacing, killing and terrorising of a civilian population by an invading state).

The reliance on words – and even their dictionary appropriation is as meaningless as arguing over preference. Surely we now have a much deeper understanding of words, language and it’s meaning?. It’s contextualised. A few years ago the word texting would mean nothing to us. It still doesn’t in some countries.

I agree with you in principle. I even agree with you in spirit. I just can’t agree in application.

And yes, I agree that the re-appropriation of words is spurious and self serving. Such as what you describe.

I personally doubt that an explanation of the source of propaganda is enough.

But I love the fact that people are trying.

By: Syd Walker

Syd Walker — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:16:07 +0000

Thanks for your comment Grumblingone.

I have some problems with the term’ genocide’ also – a product of the 1940s, invented by a Jewish American (immigrant from Europe) called Rafael Lemkin

I do agree, however, that ‘ethnic cleansing’ is probably in a league of its own for embedded disgusting assumptions.

By: Grumblingone

Grumblingone — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:25:27 +0000

Excellent point.
Semantics are a tool. Like all tools it can be used for good or evil.
Changing “Genocide” to “Ethnic Cleansing” is just a trick of words to get folks to be less revolted by it. It sounds “Official” and “Specific”, when in actuality it is more the opposite .
There are many words like this used in politics of course, but I totally agree it is disgusting to gloss over MASS MURDER.