http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/07/words_sticks_and_stones.php
Words, Sticks and Stones By Bill West Congressman Peter Hoekstra from Michigan has recently introduced legislation <http://tinyurl.com/5n3k9e> that would ban the banning by the Government of the use of various terms describing Islamic jihadists who want to wage holy war against us. The Administration has decided using such terms by Government officials somehow "rewards" jihadists and offends regular, moderate Muslims. This topic has been covered by the CTB fairly extensively. Now the usual cast of jihadist apologists are deriding Congressman Hoekstra for his efforts in trying to stop what many believe is the Government's PC nonsense...better to call terrorists who themselves declare their violent, murderous actions Islamic inspired jihad mere criminals. Is this argument really rather silly, or could there be something more at stake? Let's examine one potential aspect of "what's in a word"...or words. Much to the chagrin of apologists and supporters of those jihadists...er, misguided criminals...as well as no shortage of screaming left-wing attorneys, there exists within the Immigration and Nationality Act (a body of law passed by Congress) a provision that bars the entry into the US of, and the issuance of visas to, aliens (foreign nationals) who are prominent figures and who use their positions of prominence to espouse support for terrorism. The supporters of such supporters shout to High Heaven that even if such persons really do support terrorism, they are merely exercising free speech. Well, technically that would be correct. Unless, of course, such speech is not "free" within the country wherein it is made. And, even now, the US Supreme Court has yet to extend America's 1st Amendment free speech rights to the rest of the planet beyond US territory...though, after the recent Gitmo habeas decision, who knows how long before that happens? If and until such a madcap decision does occur, foreign nationals outside the United States do not enjoy the 1st Amendment free speech rights we do inside the US, at least as far as US law is concerned. The point is what such foreign nationals say and write demonstrating they espouse support for terrorism can therefore be used by the Government to prevent them from being issued US visas and keep them from entering the US. Presumably, that is still considered a good thing...keeping aliens who espouse support for terrorism out of the United States. But to do that our Government officials responsible for such things must be able to officially document what those aliens say and write in support of terrorism...primarily in today's environment, radical Islamic inspired terrorism. Such proscribed aliens will, of course, routinely use terms like "jihad," "mujahadine," and "caliphate" and many others the Administration would prefer our officials avoid. If officialdom shies away from officially using the very terms alien supporters of terrorism use, the official reports used to keep those supporters out of the US may well be insufficient for their intended purpose. Reports that are sanitized with PC appropriate language will be far easier to challenge in court, and before the media, than reports bearing actual descriptive language. The Administration may claim what it has put out is a mere guideline and does not preclude Government officials from using such terms when "necessary." Perhaps. Within the Government bureaucracy, unfortunately, such policies often take on a life of their own and grow far beyond the original intent. What Congressman Hoekstra is doing is a righteous effort to kill a weed at its root. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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