Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Confusion of terms.

Rick Perlstein, writing for The New Republic Online in his sensationalistically-titled NRA hit piece "A View to a Kill", seems to be having a little difficulty with definitions. In an attempt to splash the blood of Kathryn Johnson on the National Rifle Association and its support of Castle Doctrine laws, he describes the assault on her thusly:
The resident, Kathryn Johnston--88 years old by some accounts, 92 years old by others--pulled a pistol on the intruders. The police fired on their assailant.
Let's look at that, shall we?
asĖˆsailant noun
a person who attacks
Last I checked, Kathryn wasn't attacking anybody. She was sitting in her house, minding her own damned business, when her assailants burst through her door.

Defense. Attack. There's a difference, and it's an important one, but it's apparently a little elusive to Mr. Perlstein, who won't let things like the truth deter him from his editorial goal.

(H/T to SayUncle.)

7 comments:

3yellowdogs said...

spin (noun)
Slang. to cause to have a particular bias; influence in a certain direction: His assignment was to spin the reporters after the president's speech.

Unknown said...

It kind of reminds me of the Communist definition of an "unjust" war, which includes any force used in self-defense against Communist liberating armies (which is a "just war", even if it's offensive.)

In that guy's worldview, you're the assailant if you use force against the State, even if it's in self-defense. You're being assailed if you're an agent of the State being fired upon, even if you're breaking someone's door down and the inhabitants use force in self-defense.

Zendo Deb said...

Sounds like a bit of pro-police-state propaganda.

Yosemite Sam said...

Lucky for the American Left that Bush isn't really a fascist, wanna be Hitler. If the Stormtroopers ever came for them, they would be rolling on their back with their bellies in the air like dogs.

Don M said...

Odd, the bureaucrat defends his officers by claiming "This was another tragedy involving drugs."

Which is exactly a lie. The lady had no illegal drugs. The police had no illegal drugs. The "informant" claims he didn't inform.

No drugs involved except for adrenalin and too much power for the good of the commonwealth.

Unknown said...

Also, blaming that shooting on the presence of drugs is like a spouse killer justifying shooting his wife by saying, "This was another tragedy involving cold dinner."

Unknown said...

Also, blaming that shooting on the presence of drugs is like a spouse killer justifying shooting his wife by saying, "This was another tragedy involving cold dinner."