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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Words That Hurt
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1
2009/06/24 - 6:02pm

I'm all for hope and change, but I'm ashamed by our president making light of the Uyghurs wrongly imprisoned at Gitmo. He made the following jokes at last week's Radio TV Correspondents' Dinner:

Nick at Nite has a new take on an old classic: Leave It to Uyghurs. I thought that was pretty good. As I have traveled to all these countries, I saw firsthand how much people truly have in common with one another, because no matter where I went there is one thing I heard over and over again from every world leader: ‘No thanks, but have you considered Palau?'

Somebody tell me why I should lighten up and laugh at this. Maybe Obama can sing a round of Bomb Bomb Iran with McCain? They're just words, right? Obama sometimes has a way with words, but he blew it on this one. How would we like it if another world leader made jokes about American prisoners wrongly detained? We'd be all over that.

Guest
2
2009/06/25 - 7:46am

No, I agree with you, making fun of the plight of the Uyghurs is not a laughing matter. As I have tried to teach my kids, "Words have meanings, actions have consequences."

On the other hand, I do get the Palau joke and it is a fine jibe. It is true that the world has been (rightly) allied against the US for the Gitmo fiasco, and yet, when it comes to helping to resolve the issue one has to go to the ends of the earth (well, at least figuratively) to find someone desperate enough to help. What was it, $US 12 million per prisoner for relocation?

Guest
3
2009/06/25 - 1:56pm

Snarls said:

No, I agree with you, making fun of the plight of the Uyghurs is not a laughing matter. As I have tried to teach my kids, “Words have meanings, actions have consequences.”


I would agree with that. I was brought up with the idea of "Stick and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I never believed that, and I still don't.

Guest
4
2009/06/25 - 2:04pm
Guest
5
2009/06/26 - 12:26pm

Thanks, guys. It's good to know I haven't become too grouchy in my old age. yell

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