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June 01, 2006
Dear Globe and Mail
Regarding your Saturday, May 27 cover story, "Details surface of U.S. 'atrocity' in Iraq":
I find the use of the phrase "women and children" in stories such as this disturbing, as too often this phrase is trotted out in an attempt to ratchet up the horror of events being reported. Not only does it characterize women as helpless and weak individuals, something less than adult, but at the same time it implies that it is somehow more "okay" for male civilians to be killed than for women. It may seem a small quibble, but journalists of all people ought to be sensitive to the subtleties of the words they choose: had women and children not been among those civilians so brutally killed, would the events of last November then be less of an atrocity? Your language suggests that it would.
Sincerely,
Jodi Green
Posted by jodi at June 1, 2006 12:52 PM | categories: assholes
Comments
Good point.
Posted by: NWJR at June 1, 2006 01:43 PM
here, here.
Posted by: anna at June 1, 2006 02:15 PM
Exactly. And why are the deaths of women and children any more tragic and sad than the deaths of men? They are still someone's family, someone loved.
Posted by: Megan at June 1, 2006 02:21 PM
Next week's headline:
Atrocities in Iraq include the deaths of thousands of puppies and kitties!
Posted by: liz at June 1, 2006 03:49 PM
what about the rats!? Poor rats. No one cares about them.
Posted by: Megan at June 1, 2006 05:29 PM
Excellent point...
Posted by: korin at June 1, 2006 08:54 PM
Clapclapclapclapclap.
And more applause for the fact that you are updating more frequently these days!
Posted by: Jen at June 3, 2006 07:41 PM