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TechnographSemantics play big role in covering Israeli-Palestinian conflict
By Jeff Brown, Graduate student
Posted: 4/8/08 Section: Letters
In an article underscoring the important role that semantics play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (namely, with respect to the word "intifada"), I was struck by the irony of Marie Wilson's careless characterization of Israel's West Bank barrier as an "apartheid wall" in her April 4 piece on "Cafe Intifada."
This may well be the term that Students for Justice in Palestine utilizes to portray the structure, but Ms. Wilson's choice to use such a partisan description without quotation marks smacks of irresponsible journalism.
Indeed, it would be no more appropriate to describe the barrier as a Fence for Life, as it has been depicted by the eponymous Israeli movement and other pro-Israel constituencies.
The diligent use of putatively neutral language in characterizing aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not only avoids implicit bias but further incentivizes readers to familiarize themselves with the intricacies of this complex and costly dispute.
Jeff Brown
Graduate student
This may well be the term that Students for Justice in Palestine utilizes to portray the structure, but Ms. Wilson's choice to use such a partisan description without quotation marks smacks of irresponsible journalism.
Indeed, it would be no more appropriate to describe the barrier as a Fence for Life, as it has been depicted by the eponymous Israeli movement and other pro-Israel constituencies.
The diligent use of putatively neutral language in characterizing aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not only avoids implicit bias but further incentivizes readers to familiarize themselves with the intricacies of this complex and costly dispute.
Jeff Brown
Graduate student
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Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Steven
posted 4/08/08 @ 12:42 PM CST
Jeff, nicely said. At least the inclusion of quotes around "apartheid wall" would have been preferable.
Rendering the Truth
posted 4/08/08 @ 3:57 PM CST
I have been to Israel, and I?ve seen this massive, atrocious wall erected on Palestinian land, impeding movement to the ultimate degree. From what I saw, there was nothing ?fence-like? about it. (Continued…)
Rendering the Truth
posted 4/08/08 @ 3:59 PM CST
Sorry about the ? marks. They didn't come out as quotation marks.
TruthSeeker
posted 4/08/08 @ 4:51 PM CST
"Rendering theTruth" is a liar. He used a plagiarized piece, not reflecting his/her own experience. Is this the best UIUC propagandists for the pedophiliac cult of the rapist Muhammad (puke be on him) can do? If so, their entire academic record should be checked. (Continued…)
Fred the Duck
posted 4/08/08 @ 5:37 PM CST
Jeez, Rendering, you make it sound like they put the wall up just to spite the people on the other side. Maybe you should do a Lexus search on "suicide bombing" in 2000 - 2003 and see what you get - you know, just to refresh your memory. (Continued…)
Mark
posted 4/08/08 @ 6:45 PM CST
Another issue is: Who says it's the Palestinians' land? The Israelis won it, fair and square in a war. It's naive to think the because it was annexed after the '67 war, that it was stolen. (Continued…)
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