"Crusade", definitely a bad choice to British English speakers' ears.
It conjures up all the history of Richard the Lionheart, about 300 years
of 'Holy'Wars, Christians versus Muslims and the battles to capture and
recapture Jerusalem. In the given situation this is the first connotation
which springs to mind.
The images are vivid but narrow much like 'cowboys and Indians'
Thank you Omar, for explaining the usage "hamlah" and "al-huruub
al-Salibiyyah". It was interesting, almost comforting, to hear these
wars were of minor significance to the Arab and Muslim worlds as
they constitute a large part of our history.
So it all boils down to the translation and I wonder
if it has been picked up by the Arabic Press in the meantime.
Even if it is 'overlooked', I still personally see it as a potentially
dangerous choice which pushes the whole issue into a disturbing area as
Reinhold Schlieper wrote.
Here I must apologise for having sent my mail in German recently
and thank Reinhold for the translation.( I'm a Brit, living in Germany)
As you can imagine it was by mistake, not intended for this forum at all.
I've only just seen it, not having 'visited' you all for some time.
I would also like to apologise to those who have found the subject
distressing or not appropriate for the forum.
However, reading through the many responses and ensuing discussions,
I can see more positive than negative outcomes. I have been able to gather
some valuable insights and information - The Lakoff article, to mention but one -
and sincerely hope anyone driven off the list will soon come 'home'.
Martha, where are you?
Patsi
Max Morenberg schrieb:
> No doubt "crusade" was a bad choice of words because it is offensive
> to all Moslems, not just those we consider murderers and terrorists.
> But I assumed Bush had wanted to recall our all-out war against Nazi
> evil and aggression, which Eisenhower called Crusade in Europe. I
> guess because I read Eisenhower's book when I was in high school in
> the 50s, that's the first reference I thought of when I heard the
> president label our new war a crusade.
>
> Bush should have checked with Middle Eastern experts before using the
> word. Nonetheless, it's an understandable error.
>
> --
> Max Morenberg, Professor
> Department of English
> Miami University
> Oxford, OH 45056
> [log in to unmask]
>
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