There has been a bit of an online storm over the part that Sarah Palin's crosshairs map payed, or didn't play, in the shootings in Tucson. I'm not going to reheat any of that but I am interested in why politics borrows so much of it's language from the military lexicon.
Those who take an interest in politics are probably so used to hearing military terms used that they are deaf to their heritage. We hear about campaigns, strategy, targeting, war rooms, HQs, election battles, fighting for a seat etc. yet we hardly remember that these words were borne out of conflict. War fighting isn't the only part of life where there is intense competition yet we don't borrow language from the world of sport. In politics it is a battle not a match.
With the language of politics being so militaristic is it any wonder that we read people saying that Labour needs to "turn its guns on the Tories" or see crosshairs used as a visual metaphor for a target seat?
I don't believe for a second that seeing Sarah Palin's target map was the cause of Jared Lee Loughner's attack and I believe that few of those who claim that it was believe it either.
Gay Marriage Fight Risks Diluting Credibility
29 minutes ago
Posts
5 comments:
I don't think there would have been such claims had they not come from Gabby Gifford herself, 10 months prior to her shooting:
"We're on Sarah Palin's targeted list. But the thing is, the way she has it depicted it has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. And when people do that, they've got to realize there are consequences to that action."
The target map was apparently removed from Palin's site soon after the shooting. I wonder why if it could not be interpreted in such a sick way by sick people with guns.
Silly, Jimmy. Sarah Palin's language has been no more militaristic than President Barack Obama's own language ("they bring a knife, we bring a gun", to name one example). Let's also not forget the LIBERAL websites (e.g., Daily Kos and its "she's dead to me" post referencing Giffords...which the Daily Kos also pulled down from its website) which had targeted the moderate Democrat Rep. Giffords as well.
Given that the Arizona shooter was a LIBERAL (he lists The Communist Manifesto as one of his fave books, his own friends have described him as liberal in media reports), this has no ties to America's Right. Perhaps America's Left - starting at the top, with President Obama - should reflect on their actions...
It's a very strange world - or maybe just the US - where being a fan of the Communist Manifesto is seen as evidence of liberalism. For what it's worth I think Caroline Philp in the Times had it about right. SP probably didn't have anything to do with it, but by her defensive response has proven that she is a pure tribalist who is not capable of leading any kind of united nation. But we probably knew that already.
Silly Shey. Along with The Communist Manifesto in his favourite books was Mein Kampf apparently - another great work in the Liberal tradition? I think you may have been watching too much Fox 'News'.
I did not claim Sarah Palin is responsible, I am just pointing out that the media's discussion of the topic is reasonable given Giffords' previous fears and warnings.
It is unfortunate that mentally ill, gun owning, conspiracy theorists do not need a huge amount of encouragement to do really stupid things. That doesn't mean that all political debate should be free from any criticism, but it probably makes Giffords' point about the use of language and imagery more worthy of discussion whether in relation to the left or right.
James said:...yet we don't borrow language from the world of sport
Politics often uses sporting metaphors, here are a few examples which I'm sure have been used in relation to politics:
First Past the Post
Game, Set and Match
Own Goal
Leadership Race
'It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain.' - Howe
It's a sign of how nasty - and desperate - the Democrats are these days, that they would attempt to capitalise on this tragedy for political gain. Shades of 9/11 and Katrina.
Post a Comment