NationStates Jolt Archive


Horray for EU Political Correction...

Lt_Cody
19-04-2006, 17:32
Surely this will solve many of Europe's Islamic-related problems... :rolleyes:


http://euobserver.com/9/21384


Islamic terrorism' phrase to be banned from EU lexicon
13.04.2006 - 09:47 CET | By Mark Beunderman
The EU is working on a public communication lexicon which blacklists the term "Islamic terrorism."

The "non-emotive lexicon for discussing radicalisation" should be submitted to EU leaders who will meet in June, according to press reports.

EU officials drafting the guidelines hope that the European Commission and the European Parliament will also endorse the linguistic code of conduct, which will be non-binding.

"Certainly 'Islamic terrorism' is something we will not use ... we talk about 'terrorists who abusively invoke Islam'," an EU official told Reuters.

The aim of the guidelines is to avoid the use of words that could unnecessarily offend Muslims and spark radicalisation.

The EU official indicated "You don't want to use terminology which would aggravate the problem."

"This is an attempt ... to be aware of the sensitivities implied by the use of certain language."

"Jihad" is another term under review, with the EU contact telling Reuters "Jihad means something for you and me, it means something else for a Muslim. Jihad is a perfectly positive concept of trying to fight evil within yourself."

The lexicon initiative comes in the wake of a row over Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohamed, which led to outbreaks of anger and violence throughout the Muslim world.

The European Commission currently employs 20 terminologists, one for each official language, to advise translators how to handle not only EU policy jargon such as "subsidiarity," but also sensitive words like "terrorism."

The EU’s interinstitutional termbank (IATE) defines a "terrorist" as "a person who commits a violent act for political reasons."
Macdar
19-04-2006, 17:35
I didn't think it was possible, but now I'm even MORE Anti-PC then I was before.
Laerod
19-04-2006, 17:38
Well, this might be because the same lexicon doesn't have "IRA terrorism", "Christian anti-abortionist terrorism", or other ideologically specified brands in it. Either all should be in there or none, and frankly, none saves more trees. :)
The Anglophone Peoples
19-04-2006, 17:38
:mp5:
Gah, why can't they just call a spade a spade?
Macdar
19-04-2006, 17:40
Because if they call a spade a spade bleeding hearts get all pissy because we might offend somebody.
Tactical Grace
19-04-2006, 17:41
I never heard the violence in Northern Ireland described as Christian, Catholic or Protestant terrorism (except by those seeking to feed the flames).

It's just a case of universal application of common standards.
Lt_Cody
19-04-2006, 17:41
:mp5:
Gah, why can't they just call a spade a spade?

How dare you offend a spade by calling it a spade; what do you think you have, freedom of speech?
Potato jack
19-04-2006, 18:52
Is that what they do with all those billions of euros:this stupid stuff and regulating the curvature of bananas
Egg and chips
19-04-2006, 18:54
:mp5:
Gah, why can't they just call a spade a spade?
Because it's a shovel :P
Lt_Cody
21-04-2006, 18:11
I never heard the violence in Northern Ireland described as Christian, Catholic or Protestant terrorism (except by those seeking to feed the flames).

It's just a case of universal application of common standards.

The IRA's goals though were never primarily religious though IIRC
Kryozerkia
21-04-2006, 18:26
:mp5:
Gah, why can't they just call a spade a spade?
Because it makes too much sense?
New Burmesia
21-04-2006, 18:33
The EU says a lot, but does everybody do what they say?

Thought not!