Irish Examiner View: Inflammatory language loses force when overused

Using words including ‘apartheid’ and ‘antisemitic’ has become so pervasive that they risk being rendered meaningless.

United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard said the international community 'must face up to the reality of Israel’s apartheid'. Picture: Cemal Yurttas/DHA via AP

As President Michael D Higgins likes to remind us: “Words matter. Words hurt. Words empower. Words can divide.”

Two of the most potent words in public discourse are ‘apartheid’ and ‘antisemitic’. There is a time to use them, but overuse either of them and they lose their force.