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Careful manipulation of language hides the truth

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Written by John Grosvenor John Grosvenor
Published: 08 October 2002 08 October 2002
Letter to the Editor:

The article "Hamas Threatens Revenge" (Oct. 8) described the Israelis firing a missile into a large crowd of Palestinians, killing 12 and wounding 110 which included many women and children. This isn't the first time the Israelis have done this. In July, they fired a missile into a crowded apartment building in Gaza which killed and wounded dozens of other innocent civilians.

If the victims of this attack had been Israelis, this article would have appeared on the front page of the Oregonian, not on page 6 where it appeared. If the victims had been Israelis, the words "violence" and "terrorism" would have been used to describe this horrendous assault. Does not an Israseli attack ever warrant words stronger than "self defense"?

There is a careful manipulation of language these days. When Palestinians are killed, it is "in response" or "self defense". When Israelis are killed, it is "violence" and "terrorism".

John Grosvenor
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