Poor, Edmund W wrote:
So, every time someone mentions Gaza and the West
Bank, they
have a choice: simply call them "Gaza and the West Bank", which
doesn't imply much of anything;
I think we are fortunate in this particular case, in there there is a
politically neutral name for the area. We don't need to say either
"occupied territories" or "disputed territories", we can just say
"Gaza and the West Bank".
In other cases, I suppose this might be more difficult, for instance
if there is no relatively neutral term.
"pro-life" and "pro-choice", in the abortion debate, are the standard
terms, and I think they are generally accepted -- but only grudgingly
-- by both sides. Both are questionable to a degree, but it seems
that the media consensus is to let each side name their own position.
Pro-choicers will argue that they are in fact in favor of life, and so
forth. Pro-lifers will argue that they are in fact in favor of choice
(for the unborn, etc.) Pro-abortion and anti-abortion are no better,
because Pro-choicers will often reject the notion that they are _in
favor of_ abortion.
My point is -- Ed's right, whenever there's a politically neutral
term, acceptable to all sides, we should use it. But I also think
that this will sometimes be difficult.
--Jimbo