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.
Irish Examiner View: Inflammatory language loses force when overused

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.

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