TTEscrima

A reliable source has informed me that Condoleeza Rice has approved a new lexicon for State Department usage, absolutely forbidding the use of the terms "jihad" and "jihadist" by any State Department official.

The argument, of course, is the old Streusand/Guirard claim that by using the word jihad, we're validating the jihadist claim to be waging jihad. Of course, it's ridiculous to think that the U.S. State Department carries any validating authority within the Islamic world to determine what is Islam and what isn't. This would be the first time that unbelievers have set the meaning of Islamic theology for Muslims.

Also, the claim is that by using the word "jihad," we are insulting the peaceful Muslims who are waging the daily jihad of the struggle against sin, the struggle against the dirty dishes, etc. And that's great, if that's what any Muslim actually believes is the sum and substance of jihad, but it is an understanding of jihad that is at odds with the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence. Will Muslims be insulted by a reference to other Muslims using the traditional primary meaning of jihad? Answer: probably. But that doesn't negate the traditional status of that meaning, or the influence of that traditional view in the Islamic world.

New State Department lexicon forbids use of the words "jihad" or "jihadist"

Jihad Watch: New State Department lexicon forbids use of the words "jihad" or "jihadist"

Mike Brewer

This exact same word-for-word article is popping up all over the place.

New State Department lexicon forbids use of the words "jihad" or "jihadist"

New State Department lexicon forbids use of the words "jihad" or "jihadist" - JihadChat.com

YID With LID: Condoleezza Rice Forbids The Use of the Word JIHAD

lgf: State Department Solves 'Jihad' Problem

ETCETERA.

That usually means one of two things.

1. It's entirely reliable, in which case Rice is making a mistake of titanic proportions.
2. It's a rumor that's being spread by one single group with an agenda that probably runs counter to the State Department's aims.

Hard to say which is more likely at this point, but it's always a good idea to reserve judgement in cases where (a) sources are unnamed, and (b) the story is only covered from one angle, one source, in one place. I haven't seen this in any other spot, and I haven't seen anyone's take on it except the source you quoted, TT. That gives me pause.

In visiting U.S. Department of State - Home Page to see what's there, I didn't find any reference to this in the Sec. State's remarks. That seems fishy. This is something that ought to be pretty public if it is indeed designed to avoid public validation of the whole Jihad as Holy War notion. If the change was truly designed to avoid giving extremist jihad any legitimacy, you'd think that it would be more overt.

What the Secretary Has Been Saying

Daily Press Briefings

I've also gotten nothing in any of the press releases I subscribe to from State mentioning this change.

Press Releases (Other)

I guess it's a wait and see kind of a deal. Right now, I think there's every chance it could be a rumor, but you never know. If it's true, I think it's moronic in the extreme.

aseepish

The Google ad for this thread is hilarious. I don't know if you see what I see, but mine is for "The international muslim matrimonial site".

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