I am alleging this . . .

Everything’s alleged these days, as newspapers try to be even-handed but are ham-handed instead.  But Terry Armour on Comcast sports just spoke of “alleged dogfighting allegations” regarding NFL star Michael Vick.  That’s what I call being cautious.

UpdateIt’s catching.  Reader B. reports that an hour later, a woman on CNN said much the same thing.  Or so Reader B. alleges.

Good call on “homeland”

From Hit and Run, Reason Mag’s staff blog, “What Does ‘Homeland’ Mean to You?”: Listener complained on NPR about use of “protecting the homeland.”

I wasn’t alive during World War II, but I associate “the homeland” with Nazi propaganda. It’s fascistic and offensive.

Better to say “U.S” or “America,” she said.

For science writer Ron Bailey,

the word “homeland” conjures a kind of antediluvian primitive nationalism (tribalism) based on blood and soil, not a people united by their devotion to political ideals like liberty and free speech.

Not enough is made of this volk culture that led Germans to the national-socialism trough.  Comments on the blog include favoring “domestic” instead.  Opposing it to what, however?  Defending or protecting America is the point.