"icon"

[Jonathan Lighter]

But it isn't, you know, kind of a downer to call somebody a "martyr" right
there on TV?  And isn't that a word favored by Islamic fundamentalist
suicide/homicide bombers?

No, the associations are all wrong.

"Slain Civil Rights victim...." is a definite contender.

On the other hand, no one is really a "victim" unless they choose to be.
They are "survivors." So "slain Civil Rights survivor..." should work.

JL


On Sun, May 5, 2013 at 10:26 AM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: "icon"
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> At 5/5/2013 07:54 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> >In today's version, it's "_slain_ Civil Rights icon Emmett Till."  Usually
> >the phrase you hear is "slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King,"
> >but since Till wasn't a "leader," the only alternative in media Inglish is
> >"icon."
>
> This is exactly why I wondered about a progression (in some people's
> and cable networks' minds).
>
> An alternative to "leader" for Emmett Till might be "martyr" (more
> honored and significant than simply a "victim").  We all know who the
> greatest martyr in human history is.  He has become an idol.  And
> icons have been painted, carved, etc. for him.
>
> Thus "martyr" to "idol" to "icon".
>
> Joel
>
>
> >It would take too long - apparently - to tell millennials-on-brain-support
> >just who Emmett Till  was. You know, "a young black teenager kidnaped,
> >beaten, and murdered by white racists in 1955."
> >
> >"Civil Rights icon" is just cooler.
> >
> >JL
> >
> >
> >On Sun, May 5, 2013 at 1:42 AM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -----------------------
> > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster:       Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> > > Subject:      Re: "icon"
> > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > On Sat, May 4, 2013 at 7:42 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
> wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
> > > >wrote:
> > >
> > > > Honestly, I don't think "martyr" or "idol" has anything to do with
> it.
> > >
> > >
> > > *Especially* not in the case cited. Victim? Yes. "Icon"?! No!
>
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>



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