Isn't the term 'suicide bomber' inappropriate for a child?
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:08 am
Truly awful stuff going on elsewhere. The story in the next link talks about suicide bomber girls, even though some murderer detonates the explosives remotely:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30772028" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yet the BBC itself had a striking story at the end of December showing how far from suicide the reality may be: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30601639" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Reputable journalism needs to choose terminology more responsibly when talking about children. How could any 10 year old who hasn't been brainwashed or forced want to blow themselves (and others) up? How can westerners call it suicide when someone else is triggering a remote control? Is there even a legal concept of suicide that applies to children?
Forcing children to wear explosives is barbaric. Describing it in a way that suggests young girls (or boys) chose that path entirely voluntarily is offensive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30772028" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yet the BBC itself had a striking story at the end of December showing how far from suicide the reality may be: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30601639" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Reputable journalism needs to choose terminology more responsibly when talking about children. How could any 10 year old who hasn't been brainwashed or forced want to blow themselves (and others) up? How can westerners call it suicide when someone else is triggering a remote control? Is there even a legal concept of suicide that applies to children?
Forcing children to wear explosives is barbaric. Describing it in a way that suggests young girls (or boys) chose that path entirely voluntarily is offensive.