Normally I don't deign to correct grammatical errors, but Glenn Reynolds' link to what he called an "ongoing disgrace" made me feel obligated to say something about this one:
"We will never come out against a religion, but the politics we are against," said Buckner-Nkrumah. "We believe every Zionist should have a bullet in their head."
That is a disgrace!
He should have said "bullet in his head."
The reason it's an especially shocking disgrace is because Troy Buckner-Nukrumah was described as some sort of "teacher." At least, he's described as a "lecturer" for the "College of Ethnic Studies." Is that an academic outfit? The reason I'm asking is that San Francisco State is taxpayer supported, and I'd hate to think that the California tax dollars I paid over the years might have been funding teachers who can't teach.
It's hard not to notice that Lecturer B-M (forgive me, but these hyphenated names leave a bad taste in my mouth sometimes) also advocated murder, and in very general terms. I'm assuming he defines "Zionist" as every Israeli Jew, as well as everyone who supports Israel.
What that means is that I also deserve a bullet in my head according to the College of Ethnic Studes "lecturer."
The idea that I need a bullet through my head because I support Israel is an opinion, but it's a lunatic fringe one.
How voicing such an opinion is in any way educational I do not know.
But when it isn't even uttered correctly, I feel obligated to step in and be a language cop.
posted by Eric on 03.10.07 at 10:40 AM
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Comments
Perhaps one or more of the following:
his or her head
his and her head (inclusive)
his and/or her head (legalistic)
her head (liberal academic)
her heads (bad sf movie)
Bleepless · March 10, 2007 06:59 PM
Mr. B-N has been at it for a long time. I Googled his name (his "N" name has alternative spellings, apparently) and read this,
by him. That was 12 years ago, when he was a senior. Count how many times he uses "Zionist" or a variation thereof. The dude is positively obsessed with it.
He also conflates Zionism and apartheid, expanding his available pool of people to hate on. He comes off as a whiny, self-righteous bitch.
skh.pcola · March 11, 2007 02:45 PM
bleepless above covers all the possible corrections for the singular use of Zionist.
But I think if I were crafting a like sentence I would go with pluralizing the subject so as to avoid the mess with his/her.
Example, "We believe all Islamo-fascist terrorists frequently sexually assault their goats."
I just think constructing those kind of sentences with pluralized subjects whenever possible is the way to go.
Perhaps one or more of the following:
his or her head
his and her head (inclusive)
his and/or her head (legalistic)
her head (liberal academic)
her heads (bad sf movie)