Sunday, November 25, 2007

UK abandons "offensive and inappropriate language" such as "war on terror"

We read:

"Counter-terrorism officials are rethinking their approach to tackling the radicalisation of Muslim youth, abandoning what they admit has been offensive and inappropriate language. They say the term "war on terror" will no longer be heard from ministers. Instead, they will use less emotive language, emphasising the criminal nature of the plots and conspiracies. The government in future, they add, will talk of a "struggle" against extremist ideology, rather than a "battle".

"We hadn't got the message right," said one senior official. He added: "We must talk in a language which is not offensive." Another said that the terrorist threat must not be described as a "Muslim problem".

Source

Calling a spade a spade is just not British! A spade would have to be an "excavation implement" in Britain, I guess.

Yes. I do know that "spade" has been deemed incorrect too.