In the global scheme of things, nitpicking grammar and word usage doesn't appear to rank very high on the priority scale.
Also, far be it from me to claim a mastery of grammar, spelling or punctuation, so when I preach my sermon I would implore you to do as I say, not as I do.
With that warning out of the way ...
sus·pect [səˈspɛkt]
v. sus·pect·ed, sus·pect·ing, sus·pects
v.tr.
To surmise to be true or probable; imagine: I suspect they are very disappointed.
To have doubts about; distrust: I suspect his motives.
To think (a person) guilty without proof: The police suspect her of murder.
v.intr.
To have suspicion.
n.
One who is suspected, especially of having committed a crime.
adj.
Open to or viewed with suspicion: a suspect policy; suspect motives.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The mainstream media is in an escalating battle for political correctness, fought in a litigious atmosphere of fear.
In their attempt to avoid lawyers, liberals and other vermin, however, they are playing down the criminal nature of the acts they attempt to sensationalize.
I wonder if they have any idea how absurd what they say often sounds. |
Media, Please:
Call a spade a spade, a robber a robber, a rapist a rapist and a murdering child molester a murdering child molester, NOT a 'suspect!'
Consider These Every-day News Reports:from the 'Lamestream' media.
- "Today, three armed suspects robbed the First Federal Bank in Yorktown, leaving one dead and seven wounded. The suspects escaped in a light Blue van.
- "The string of deadly home invasions continues, as the police step up their search for a suspect in this rash of crimes."
- "Police are searching for suspects in a shoplifting ring that is plaguing downtown retailers."
These are right out of the pages of any newspaper or the script of any broadcast news report, with nothing apparently unusual or questionable, just a straight reporting of the news.
Unfortunately, the true nature of the crimes and criminals behind them is being hidden behind the misuse of the word, suspect.
These 'wussified' versions are wrong, potentially prejudicial and certainly deceitful to the public.
Allow me to rephrase the above quotations a bit.
- "Today, three armed murderers robbed the First Federal Bank in downtown Yorktown, leaving one dead and seven wounded. The killers escaped in a light Blue van."
- "The string of deadly home invasions continues, as the police step up their search for the psychopathic killer in this rash of crimes."
- "Police are searching for the thieves in a shoplifting ring that is plaguing downtown retailers.
'Suspects' didn't rob anything or kill anybody. Three armed murderers committed this act, and after they did, the cold-blooded killers escaped in a van.
Until a person is identified as a possible perpetrator there are NO suspects, only perpetrators and victims.
The police are not looking for suspects, they are looking for perpetrators. They are actively hunting for the actual murderers, baby rapers and mother stabbers who committed the crimes.
Once the police locate a person whom they reasonably believe may be a perpetrator, that person 'becomes' a suspect and would correctly be referred to as such until their conviction or exoneration.
Entertainment Television Jumps Aboard
From Television's Law and Order
[Detective describing crime scene to partner]
"The suspect entered through here, and encountered the victim here."
"The suspect must have run out the back after the suspect shot him."
"The suspect must have crawled over the fence back here.
That's just my opinion, of course, but you're welcome to it
|
