Main Entry: <sup>1</sup>in·sur·gent Pronunciation: <tt>-j&nt</tt> Function: noun Etymology: Latin insurgent-, insurgens, present participle of insurgere to rise up, from in- + surgere to rise -- more at [SIZE=-1]SURGE[/SIZE] 1 : a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent 2 : one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party
I find it very interesting that the news media is conditioning us to "Insurgents" being the enemy. I watched the discovery channel, the military channel, cnn,; all referred continually to the opposition as "insurgents". I do not believe this is accidental.
It surely is NOT accidental. It is ignorance. I never cease to be amazed at the misuse of words over the last few years. Those of a "certain age" learned how to correctly use the language. There may be isolated cases of deliberate misuse, but I'll take a small wager that piss poor education is the main reason. Regrettably, our esteemed press seems the most guilty, closely followed by politicians that can't even get politically correct usage sorted out. Now, then, the question of the day: Who were the insurgents during our Revolutionary War? (In other words, which side are you on?)
I don't think it is a mis-use of the word due to ignorance at all; I believe it is operate conditioning (read: brain-washing) much along the lines of how the tv show "Cops" conditioned us to the militarization of our police forces and the trampeling of our rights in the name of entertainment.
Yeah, but look at how pervasive the misuse (or deliberate misuse) has spread!! Do you think it could be conspiratorically (find THAT one in the dictionary) based conditioning, then? For a conspiracy that widespread would surely have a leak in it. Just not credible to me. More likely, some allegedly wise/knowlegable person uses a word, and the rest of the sheep ba-ba just like it without having a clue what it means.
I think "freedom fighter" will get you a one way ticket to an dank lonely concrete lined hole somewhere in the Stan's... I see no problem envisioning "constitutionalist" and "libertarians" smeared with the I word fairly soon..."If you're not with us you are with the enemy"...GWbush.