Euphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a more favourable term for another expression. For example, 'adult entertainment' is a euphemism for 'pornography' and 'rest room' is a euphemism for 'toilet', even though one doesn't go there to 'rest'. (In fact, the word 'toilet' is a euphemism itself for a dressing room which also contained the appropriate bathroom feature. 'Wash room' is a more accurate alternative term.)
There's a tradition in the theatre where people refrain from uttering the name 'Macbeth', since that is a name of ill-omen. Instead, they use the euphemism 'The Scottish Play' and by doing so, fall victim of bowing to superstition.
Euphemisms can usefully avoid causing offence, but they can also be abused. Euphemisms can sanitize things or conceal realities, which however harsh, should be exposed. Hitler's euphemism for genocide was 'final solution' and from the outset of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq several notable examples appeared.
Saying a toilet is a place for resting is just silly, but using euphemisms to conceal the evils of war is obscene.
Attack and defence are opposites, but we often use the word 'defence' as a euphemism for war. Euphemisms can desensitize mass killing and prevent shareholders from pulling their support away from the arms industry, and enable politicians and voters sleep at night.
We say: | We mean: |
| military intervention | use of deadly force |
| armed services | people we pay to do our killing |
| boots on the ground | sons sent out to kill people |
| security contractors | higher paid killers |
| debriefing | interrogation |
| enhanced debriefing techniques | torture |
| liberating the oppressed | invading nations that happen to have our oil under their sand |
| Operation Iraqi Freedom | invading nations that happen to have our oil under their sand - and let's make sure we get it before the Chinese do. Make sure also that we all get a campaign medal, including cooks and pay clerks. |
| reconstruction | billions of dollars to U.S. companies |
| theatre | death zone |
| Critical Incident Stress Management Unit | mental health workers who treat morgue staff |
| Health Alteration Committee | CIA's department of assassinators, c.1960 |
| incontinent ordnance | a missile that goes off target, potentially killing civilians |
| soft targets | defenseless people to be killed (and encourage those who survive to take up arms against us, thereby prolonging the source of income for our arms manufacturers) |
| clean up | kill anyone who hasn't managed to run to safety |
| collateral damage | people killed |
| body count | the number of people killed |
| surgical strike | kill people |
| encounter | kill people |
| neutralise | kill people |
| engage | kill people |
| contact | kill people |
| regime change | kill people |
| stay the course | kill people |
| kill people | (term not used) |
... and so the list goes on. As Timothy Lynch says: "By corrupting language, the people who wield power are able to fool the others about their activities and evade responsibility and accountability." (http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6654)
