Gazans see attack on yeshiva as unusual achievement

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The celebratory shooting in the air in Gaza that followed the terrorist attack in Jerusalem last night showed that the penetration of Merkaz Harav was viewed as an unusual political and military achievement for the group responsible.

The attack brought something to a wide public in the Gaza Strip that it had been waiting for all week - revenge.

The horror scenes from Gaza at the beginning of the week sent Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other groups racing for a terror attack, knowing that whoever managed to pull one off first would score major points in the Arab and Palestinian street.

The Israel Defense Forces' attacks in Gaza, which caused the death of many civilians, provided the legitimacy for yesterday's brutal attack."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961821.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[hifalutin]

2. There could not possibly be any

legitimacy for this attack, no matter which way you slice it.

[azurnoir]

3. It occured to me

why in the American M$M is it referred to as a Seminary rather than a Yeshiva? What were some afraid that Yeshiva was too "Jewish" a term, that is in it self offensive, from just about any angle

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Igel]

5. The Pakistani press often refers to madaris as "seminaries".

Esp. in articles for international distribution.

I can think of four reasons. The first is that "madrasseh" is too "Muslim" a term.

The second is that "madrasseh" is too loaded a term. Even fairly innocuous ones are reviled in some quarters.

The third is that it's an Arabic word when there's a perfectly serviceable English word. "Madrasseh" has won the day in Urdu, perhaps not in all the languages in Pakistan (I simply don't know), but it's not won the day in English: 'madrasseh' isn't the only option. Many people avoid even the appearance of code-switching.

The fourth is that a lot of people don't know what madaris are.

It strikes me that (1), (3), and (4) are applicable here. If you want a plausible way to avoid being offended, go with (3) or (4).

[azurnoir]

7. On the many people do know what Yeshiva means

that works in with how "dumb and insular" the American public is, maybe if the press did not talk down, people would be a little more educated. The word could have been used with an explanation, instant vocabulary and understanding expansion.

[Violet_Crumble]

10. Yeah, I saw one article refer to a Yeshiva as a Jewish religious school...

Two more words than the word 'seminary', but a much more accurate description....

[hifalutin]

6. The word Yeshiva

is certainly not offensive, it is just that not an awful lot of people outside the Jewish faith would know what it means. Simple as that.

[azurnoir]

8. once again wishing I could reply to more than one person

see #7

[bemildred]

9. I have to admit that usage jarred a little.

People seems to have figured out what "madrassah" meant fairly easily. They are similar concepts. But I expect that if it came up a lot (heaven forfend) they would revert to using the correct term. One could argue that there were other intentions, but in the context, I don't think I care if there were.