EDITORIAL – CBC won’t say so, but what Hamas did in Israel was terrorism

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THE FOG OF WAR obscures fact and fiction. A hospital is bombed. Was it deliberate, a mistake, or a self-inflicted tragedy?

The very words we use to describe what’s going on in Israel and Gaza become confusing. We expect combatants to tailor their rhetoric to their own purposes but the rest of us have to figure out how to talk about it as well.

So was the Hamas attack on Israel an “incursion,” or was it a “slaughter”? The question came up on CBC’s Cross Country Checkup last weekend when a caller suggested a guest’s characterization of it as an “incursion” didn’t properly describe its enormity.

The guest, a professor, defended herself by pointing out that the definition of “incursion” is “an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one.”

Certainly, the word “incursion” would apply under that definition but is totally inadequate in describing what Hamas did to hundreds of innocents.

CBC seems especially sensitive to how it should talk about the war. Maybe you read about the leaked memo to reporters telling them not to refer to Hamas fighters as “terrorists.” It said they should avoid using the word because it’s “highly politicized.”

This week, the CBC issued a wordy explanation saying, basically, that it does publish the word “terrorist” but only with attribution.

Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by many countries including Canada, which has done so for 20 years. Not enough to convince CBC.

“Terrorism” is defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians. What else should we call attackers that cut the heads off babies, rape women and shoot the elderly in their homes? “Freedom fighters?”

No, “terrorism” is the perfect word for what Hamas did during its “incursion.”

The other parties blocked a Conservative attempt to call the CBC on the carpet Tuesday. Too bad. Maybe this is one time the broadcaster should have to explain itself.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.