Terminology, regarding

The word "atrocity" is overused on the news, especially news reported by European agencies. Many articles refer to the attacks on Hungarians and Hungarian symbols by Slovaks as "atrocities." I'm in no way attempting to minimize the impact of these attacks, nor their historical, political, cultural, symbolic, or personal significance, but calling them atrocities is a little over the top. The Beslan hostage crisis was an atrocity. The Srebrenica Massacre was an atrocity. The Holocaust was an atrocity. The acts by ignorant Slovak losers who have nothing better to do with their empty and pathetic lives than to deface national symbols or beat up women range from hooliganism and vandalism to hate crimes. Ugly as these acts are, they are not atrocities. Let's not lose perspective.

Got words? Email the ENN literati at eza_news @ yahoo.com