Monthly Articles

Observations by Bradley

Observations by Bradley - Aug 2004

In this era of political correctness in which we live, I am often amazed at the phrases coined by figures who are quoted in the media. Especially in a Presidential election year like this one, it's fun to just listen to the new terms invented to describe certain issues or things or people especially when a candidate does not want to offend anyone. This thought has inspired me to tackle a somewhat recent phrase now commonly used. Let me explain...

What's the deal with the phrase "hate crime"? I heard a news broadcast on the radio reporting that a man - after a night of binge drinking - had beheaded another man. There was to be investigation into whether this heinous act was a "hate crime". The first thing that ran through my mind was "No kidding. Alcohol-related or not, there had to be some hate there."

I realize that this term has become very popular in "racially motivated"
or other related incidents (especially since that horrible dragging death in Texas just a few years ago), but that just doesn't seem like the best terminology available. I mean, couldn't any murder (let's exclude Dr.
Kervorkian for this argument's sake) be considered a "hate crime". In fact, I think that's the very definition of murder. Let me check. Yep, since Cain committed the first murder on record, hate has been directly involved.

Seriously, though, if we're going to be redundant, let's adopt terms like "cranium skull", "female woman", "magazine periodical", "computer screen monitor", and "Wal-Mart Wal-Mart". Do you know what I mean?

I won't even try to tackle "same-sex marriage". That's an oxymoron all to itself.

Join me next time for "Who decided that July and August should both get thirty-one days? What happened to alternating?"

Official disclaimer: This column expresses the views owned solely by me, Bradley Littlejohn, not Paid In Full or Sogospelnews.com. So if you've got a beef, e-mail me. But don't think for a minute that you can discourage me by punching holes in my arguments. And one other thing, I offer only observations. No real solutions. I don't think that far in advance.