What's in a Name?

Militant. How many times today have you heard this simple yet powerful word? I hear and read it all the time. "The militant group Hamas"; "Hezbollah militants declared"; "The militant leader of the Red Mosque is dead". I'm sure you can name a dozen more uses of the word.

I can understand if Israeli officials or George W. Bush cared to use this word, they want to discredit their adversaries and anyone that thinks differently than themselves. But just because elites and state "leaders" use it doesn't mean we all have to as well. But our sources jump to use it. I think this speaks to the dismal state of the corporate media, spoon-fed text by spin doctors from their Blackberries.

Does a militant have nothing of value to say? By taking up arms or standing up for themselves are they instantly discredited? If you call someone a militant won't the sheep bray along in unison with your reporting? Shouldn't we help cultivate other herds besides sheep?

I often find "militants" quite cogent and intelligent. I saw a recent interview with the lead cleric at the Red Mosque and was quite moved by his criticisms of the inequities of Pakistani society. Similarly, Hamas and Al Qaida make incisive political arguments and have straightforward goals and positions (really, they don't just hate us for who we are; shocking I know).

The word militant also demonstrates another point: no one is allowed to challenge the state's monopoly on violence. Al Qaida, the IRA, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Weather Underground, the Unibomber, Louis Riel, Guy Fawkes, Bolsheviks, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Tamil Tigers, Naxalites, the FLQ, Six Nations and more are all regarded as evil. Not for their methods, which pale in comparison to the state's ability to destroy and pillage, but for their challenge to the primacy of the state. Violence must only flow down the hierarchy and we all accept this truth. And given that the media are an integral part of the state, I guess I can't expect the word militant to disappear anytime soon.

It's high time we took back these words and challenged the media and the state's monopoly on truth. Let's label the RCMP militants or the CIA or the military. Wouldn't that confuse all those sheep in their comfortable fields?