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Massacre or Rampage?

By Jamie McIntyre Saturday, November 7th, 2009 11:54 am
Posted in Asides

The Washington Post also made a conscious decision to not use the word “massacre” to describe the mass killing at Fort Hood, instead substituting the softer word “rampage.”

My dictionary [The New Oxford American Dictionary, on my MacBook] defines “massacre” as “an indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people,” and “rampage” as “a period of violent and uncontrollable behavior, typically involving a large group of people.”

The Post apparently did use the word “massacre” on its website, but one editor told me he thought it would take at least 20 deaths for the Ft. Hood shootings to qualify as a “massacre.” (32 were killed in the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007.)

This may be splitting hairs, but I would describe the random slaughter of 13 people and the wounding of 38 others, as a “massacre.”

Tags: Ft. Hood, Massacre, Rampage

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	BWJones November 7th, 2009 at 5:05 pm Massacre.… totally.
	Grumpy November 7th, 2009 at 6:21 pm This has been a tragic event, by any descriptor you choose. It is like when you are a child, you study arithmetic. But as that very same child grows up, he starts to study math. There is a profound difference between the two. Arithmetic is focused on the answer and math is focused on the process. Children want absolute answers and never want to delve into the process. There are many questions which must be answered, completely by our leaders past and present. As I look at the Ft. Hood tragedy, I figure there has been much we have not been told, don’t like it, but can understand it. To me, this was an individual’s act. If he did not want to go to Af’stan, then he should not have stayed in the Military. He can not have the best of both worlds, but the same is true of our Nation. We, as a Nation, need to have the same type of thought processing paradigm. This is not about us getting out, it is about us finding our own place in helping this GREAT NATION.
	Jinx November 7th, 2009 at 6:41 pm A rose by any other name .…
	Larry Castle November 8th, 2009 at 12:49 am I have a son in the Army as a career soldier, who is going on his 3rd tour in Iraq. He is in the 82nd Recon Rangers, and I feel secure in the knowledge that he will be in charge of the very best warriors, the Army”. has trained!! The random, sensless actions of one (1), non combat person. Should in no way reflect any shame or doubt as to the 1,000 s of dedicated troops who willing go and lay their lives on the line for our country!! I was in the USN Seabees, from 1964– 1970, and served two 13 month touurs in RVN, and althought I wasnt thrilled to do so, I saw it as my duty to go, and am proud of my service and all those who were there with me!! Lets put this unfortunate incident to rest, and instead pray for and suport those who do their duty day and night without a complaint !! They are AMERICAS Heros!!!
	LARRY November 8th, 2009 at 1:05 am AND A WARRIOR BY ANY OTHER NAME STILL REMAINS A “WARRIOR”, WHOS WILLING TO DO WHAT IS ASKED OF HIM TO KEEP THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO SERVE SAFE!! IM HOPING BY YOUR REPLY YOU MEANT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WENT “POSTAL”, IS JUST THAT A MANIACAL RANDOM KILLER, WHO WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF WITHOUT. JUST BURY THE BASTARD IN AN UNMARKED GRAVE, AND GET ON WITH GETTING OUR BRAVE TROOPS BACK HOME!!
	Curt Kastens November 8th, 2009 at 7:17 am Laying their lives on the line for our country my ass. US military personnel no more put their lives on the line for their country than the Hells Angles do. Paul Craig Roberts puts his life on the line for our country. Cindy Sheehan puts her life on the Line for our country, LT Watada put his like on the line for our country. Sgt. Akbar put his life on the line for our country. Col. (Ret.) Ann Wright puts her life on the line for our country. Jeff Huber puts his life on the line for our country. Wayne Madsen puts his life on the line for our country. Stan Goff puts his life on the line for our country. Justin Ramindo puts his life on the line for our country. Col. Westhusing put his life on the line for our country. Patrick Buchanon puts his life on the line for our country. Ralph Nader puts his life on the line for our county. The soldiers and NCOs who have refused to deploy have put their lives on the line for our country. Do you see a common thread? These are people who set a good example. People who serve in the 21st Century US military set just the opposite example. They are addicts who can not recognize that they have a problem.
	Alyssa November 8th, 2009 at 7:56 pm I think Jamie brought up an interesting point here. Although he feels that the events at Fort Hood should be considered a massacre, I am not sure that I would agree. I do feel that it was a tragedy and a very unfortunate occurrence, but I am not sure that I would consider it a massacre. In my opinion, I feel that a massacre constitutes an extraordinary large amount of casualties, not to downplay the seriousness of this situation, but I would have to agree with the post in saying that 13 casualties is not enough to be considered a massacre. On the same page however, I don’t think that calling it a ‘rampage’ did the story justice. I think the post actively tried to make the shooting at Ft. Hood seem far less serious than it was deserving of. To me, this is a direct link between how the media uses imagery in its stories: do they use the more graphic and honest of the pictures taken in a tragic situation, or do you candy-coat it to an extent and ‘save’ their readers from being exposed to this type of terror? Personal choice, I think a healthy amount of shock and gore will do the public good. This was a terrible thing that happened, and I am not sure that I agree with either side.
	Chris November 19th, 2009 at 6:49 pm What are you nuts? These people put their reputation on the line for our country, not their lives. Your comments are an insult to the very people who fight to preserve the right for idiots like you to make such dumb ass comments.
	Bill November 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm Curt Kastens exemplifies the type of person who should be drafted into the armed forces. He just doesn’t understand.
	Curt Kastens November 20th, 2009 at 5:16 pm Bill, I love your comment. I am older now. Never again would I be so stupid to take an oath to obey any officers appointed over me. I do not care if they threw me in a dungeon and threw away the key. If there really were a common foe, like Hitler, I would accept a one way ticket to the front lines. But from then on I would make up my own mind what do. Cooperate yes, subordinate myself to people who are either evil trolls or idiot fools no way. Right now we have hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and billions of dollars running around Afghanistan and the middle east helping to prop up the leaders of these countries who are totally undeserving of even one US dollar. The soldiers that are doing it are so stupid that they think that they are somehow helping America. Or maybe they are just happy to have a chance to hunt human beings. In either case I sure as hell do not see them revolting. Maybe they are waiting for someone to give the signal or something. Until that time happens the only reasonable conclusion that I can draw is that either they are so stupid or so evil that they should not even by able to pass a pair of jeans on to the next generation. Hell I am doing more to defend the, real American people (all 3,000?) and the real Constitution which prohibits wars of aggression, than the entire US military just by enjoying myself and having a good time in one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. NO I really am not doing very much at all but that little bit is 1,000 times more than what is being done by the US military and the US government. Sincerely, Curt Kastens America’s big brother and Che Yenne medicine man
	Curt Kastens November 20th, 2009 at 6:25 pm Chris, Those soldiers are putting their lives on the line for nothing more than stupidity, or to get their kicks, or to get a college education, or to get an early retirement. The risks that they take are trivial compared to those who are fighting them. Those who are fighting them are ironically the ones fighting for our freedom. The US serviceman of the 21st century is nothing more than a highly paid mercenary and war criminal. They have absolutely no relationship with patriotism what so ever.
	Curt Kastens November 20th, 2009 at 6:37 pm Bill, It is inconceivable that there could be a revolt in the military. Who would lead such a revolt? The Generals? They are the ones who created and maintained this monster in the first place. The colonels? They are nothing more than Generals in waiting. There is a legend that there was once an honest Colonel. The rumor is that his name was Colonel Westhusing. But there are two legends as to why he does not appear. One is that he was murdered by his fellow officers or ex officers in Iraq. Another is that, like the Buddhist Monks of the Vietnam era he committed suicide to protest the war or at least US actions in the war. Of course the military wants you to believe that he committed suicide for some personal reason. Right. Riot. Right. Riot. Right? And I am supposed to be the dumb ass. That lie is almost as stupid as the attack on the USS Liberty was an accident. That lie is almost as good as the implied lie that the Israelis would dare to attack the USS Liberty without explicit approval from very high people in the US government. Hahaha and I am the dumb ass. Ewaaa Ewaaa.
	Curt Kastens November 20th, 2009 at 8:10 pm Curt, you forgot to mention to Chris that many people would prefer to risk their life rather than risk their reputation in their gang? I ask you Curt should those who write, death before dishonor, be allowed access to children? Do they have any reasonable understanding of either? Curt why are you writing to your self? Can’t you just keep your thoughts locked in your secret basement room where they belong? If you are starting to crack up perhaps you should seek counseling. If you can not afford counseling let me know and together we can work it out.
	Curt Kastens November 21st, 2009 at 12:04 am Curt, since you are doing more to protect the US Constitution than the entire US military I think that the US government owes you a 700 billion bale out check. I would support such a subsidy. After all things that are to big to fail should not be allowed to fail. I am sure that if you had such a some of money it would be very good for the US economy. I bet that you could employ more people than GM. Well I have to go now and launder some money. Unfortunately I can not give any of it to you as it does not belong to me.