WORDS THAT MAKE WAR ACCEPTABLE II

LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER
How they report some things, and slaughter others

This is the 7th in my series on the unequaled, unrecognized power of the euphemism, and how it allows governments at all levels to hoodwink, manipulate, control, deceive and outmaneuver all potential opposition. See, they don’t have to lie (altho’ they do, constantly) about the obvious things in a war, or in a lousy economy, or with regard to a corrupt Administration. Nah – they just use a euphemism so they can swear they reported the truth.

( Euphemism: the substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener.)

I’m going to take a story in the news, and reprint it exactly as written, only after each euphemism I’ll insert the realism. You spot the euphemism. Here’s the newspaper story:

November 11 2007

Only a Mother’s Love

Shown in this photograph is Ms. Jean Maxfield, proud mother of Lance Cpl Billy Maxfield of B’ Company, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, who recently served in Defense of his country in Iraq. (Realism: he was 6000 miles from his country in a war his President started – doesn’t qualify as defense.”)

Ms Maxfield was demonstrating her Motherly love for her son who was honored today in the town square. Billy enlisted in the Marine Corps two years after he graduated from High School. Billy told his Mother he “…loved his country,” so he enlisted. (Realism: He tried for two years to get a job, and the Bush economy was so lousy he lost his job repairing trucks. Like so many of his peers, there was no work, and no monetary help from anywhere that would help him go to College or Trade School.) His Mom said she was so very proud of him. (Realism: She was scared stiff, having heard what a meat grinder he was going into.)

Billy signed up with his experience as a truck mechanic, and served in the Motor Pool at Headquarters Co. in the Green Zone for two weeks, when he was suddenly deployed on patrol as a rifleman. He wrote his Mom and told her not to worry, he was proud to serve his country. (Realism: He had no choice, and it made it easier to face this insanity if you talked this way.) Cpl Maxfield’s main job in Iraq was recovery of shot-up or damaged vehicles. Billy wrote back “…It’s not scary, being in Harm’s Way.” (Realism: - It was printed as “Harm’s Way,” but actually, Billy slipped on six feet of human intestines on the ground near the truck. When he got up and opened the truck door, his hands slipped off the steering wheel, which was covered in a fine pink spray, later identified as human grey matter.)

His sergeant told Billy, “…Snap it up, Maxfield. We need you in this lead truck because of your mechanic skills.” (Realism: The former driver of the lead truck had committed suicide that morning, and they needed a warm body to handle the lead truck. Billy wasn’t needed for mechanic skills, he was needed as a driver.)

Upon the playing of the National Anthem, and the 7 Rifleman from the State National Guard who all fired into the air celebrating Veteran’s Day, it was then that Billy became the proudest of his life. His Mother was recognized and was asked to come to the podium. There, with tears in her eyes, she accepted a folded-up US flag (realism: estimated cost $5.00) and choked back her sobs as the riflemen all fired three times, effectively giving Billy a 21-gun salute. (Realism: Another euphemism, this one by action, not words. People are supposed to be ‘honored’ if 21 guns are fired into the air over their dead bodies. ?? Am I missing something here?? Wouldn’t his being alive and well be a higher honor?)

At the completion of the ceremony Billy’s Mom and Dad and family all wondered what this ceremony was about. One by one they asked each other “…What in the world did Billy die for?” “…Nothing in Iraq has changed; nothing in America has changed, “what are we always doing this for?”

While the adults at the ceremony alternatively sobbed and comforted each other, Billy’s five-year-old nephew Glenny showed off his new plastic machine gun his Mother had bought him for his birthday. Altho’ his pronunciation wasn’t perfect, one could tell he was saying “…I’m a Ma-ween, like Billy.” And then he made the sound all kids can make perfectly, the sound of an automatic weapon firing.


Faithfully, in the interest of the American people.
Bob