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Highlands Today

Linguistic timidity

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Randy Ludacer

Published: November 13, 2009

With some 31 persons wounded and 12 dead and Army Major Hasan shot down with two smoking guns in his hands, the reporting concerning the incident continues to refer to Hasan as the "suspect" or "alleged shooter" with precise consistency less someone slip and actually make on unqualified statement that Hasan did in fact shoot a number of people with the two pistols in his hands when he was shot down.

Doubtless this is based on a misconception of the judicial presumption of innocence which provides that in the eyes of the law he is clothed with a presumption of innocence. This does not however require all persons commenting on the incident, as if he is not considered, in fact, as the shooter and individual who shot down numbers of his fellow soldiers.

Perhaps there is genuine trepidation concerning passing judgment on his legal guilt for the commission of some crime punishable by law but there is clearly no doubt whatsoever that he is the self same individual who did the shooting, regardless of the ultimate legal characterization of his acts. Nevertheless it sure seems mealy-mouthed.

Randy Ludacer
Lake Placid

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