A second lexicological war

August 13, 2013

One would not ordinarily suspect an erudite, seasoned journalist such as Charles Krauthammer to be
capable of amateurish mistakes—not to mention sophistry—but that is exactly what he is guilty of in his Aug. 12 article, “The first lexicological war: Throw the dictionary at ’em.”

His original argument that the Obama administration has created softened, politically correct terms such as “reduction in staff” as opposed to “evacuation” is sound. However, he then attacks Obama for using the term “violent extremism” instead of “radical Islam” and claims that the word “extremism” is a meaningless word. He must believe people are idiots. 

Perhaps Krauthammer should open up his old journalism 101 textbook and look up “addressing the opposition” because in doing so one strengthens an argument. Consider these points, Krauthammer: Why would Obama choose not to use vitriolic rhetoric toward radical Muslims? Have you considered the fact that extremists are extremely sensitive? Do you not remember what happened to Swedish journalists who tried to publish a cartoon of Allah? Have you forgotten that some Middle Eastern governments are theocracies and that Obama is simply being diplomatic in attempting to separate the church from the state with this rhetoric? Or perhaps you’d prefer the Bush administration’s technique that got America into this extremist quagmire in the first place?

Unfortunately, Krauthammer does not stop there. He then cherry-picks an Obama quote out of context and uses it in trying to prove that Obama is soft and ambivalent on terrorism. He quotes Obama as saying, “this war, like all wars, must end.” Krauthammer implies that Obama is referring to the war on terrorism when the President’s comments were clearly directed toward pulling out of Afghanistan—not combating radical Islam. This type of misinformation is clearly driven by a narrow-minded conservative agenda bent on discrediting Obama at any cost—in this case, at the cost of the truth, which happens to be a journalist’s core responsibility.

Perhaps the most amazing part of Krauthammer’s sophistic rant is his dismay that Obama “desperately wants to end the whole struggle.” Krauthammer puts the “ugly” in ugly American. Of course we have enemies—Obama would not have hunted down Bin Laden nor continue our drone attacks if he believed that. But for Krauthammer to resent the wish for peace and not embrace its possibility is terrifying and shameful. In that way, he is no better than the cold extremists who prey upon us.       

— Ted Spaniak, Homewood, Ill.