Corrêa de Oliveira thus labeled such terms as “talismanic words.” The ability of the word “dialogue” to influence psychologically and imperceptibly the public gave the word a talismanic or “magical” quality. Thus, a fiery anticommunist could be “transshipped” into one who wants only to make compromises, concessions, and retreats.” 4 Corrêa de Oliveira showed how the use of the word “dialogue” in the place of a sharper word such as “debate” was instrumental in dissolving the differences between opposing sides of a philosophical debate. This treatise first appeared in print in the mid-sixties when heated debates about communism were common. Using the word “insurgent” in the place of terrorist would not mean much to me had it not been for the study, Unperceived Ideological Transshipment and Dialogue, 2 by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. Such language implies that a courtroom-like-investigation has to be carried out to determine whether a suspected terrorist is really a terrorist or just a Muslim that happens to like wearing a bomb around his waist and a rifle over his shoulder. They become even less terrifying when later in the article they are referred to as mere “suspected insurgents.” 1Ĭalling terrorists “suspected insurgents” strongly suggests that our troops are killing innocent people. For some time now, I have been asking myself, what on earth is an insurgent? It sounds like one of those euphemistic expressions, seen so often in print, intended to make cutthroat terrorist look less terrifying.

This became very evident for me recently as I read an Associated Press article 1 about how 76 insurgents were killed in fierce fighting. It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, but a well chosen word can make an otherwise clear picture, quite obscure.

What is cccp insurgent