I try to avoid any politics other than those connected with education so please see this as an educationally-related comment, specifically related to language, and not as a political assertion. (I can't believe I need to say that, but the curse of interesting times appears to have hit.) I am referring to Hamas and Israel.
A former student contacted me to ask if I would endorse, and comment on, an article she had written about what is happening in Gaza. While she is not Palestinian, she is a refugee whose family was forced from their home and land by religiously-motivated others, supported and funded by the US meaning US people's representatives and US people's tax dollars. Her case is that if USanians knew about this, and knew about other sides to the conflict, they would not approve of either the support or the funding.
In particular, an entire perspective of the clash is obliterated by language choice, specifically the use of the word, "attack" as in "The Hamas attack of October 7." This word means from one direction or one party, suggesting unanticipated, unprovoked, undeserved and innocence on the part of the other.
Yet, she argues, this conflict has been going since 1948 and the Hamas move was not an attack, but a response to multiple aggressions by individual Israelis, settlers, the IDF and the government. Calling it a "response" changes everything and politicians, journalists and commentators who choose the different label are shaping opinion, and thus justifying support and funding for one side and largely ignoring what is happening to the other.
An interesting point. I am reminded of a former neighbor, a staunch if not rabid conservative, who was forever lost to the Republican Party when President Reagan labeled the IRA as "freedom fighters". President Bush famously declared something to the effect of, "You're with me, or you're a terrorist." Currently, we have a presidential candidate calling those who violently forced their way into the Capitol "patriots".
I recall lessons on defining an apple which resulted in colors, taste, shampoo and phones, or trying to nail down the meaning of "hot" - Juneau. Death Valley or Mecca?
As educators, we tell our students that words matter, and that choices of words matter more. Purpose and effect anyone? I do wonder where we would be if we were discussing the Hamas response.
**Please leave comments and queries below.**
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