Musn’t Offend Anyone

Saw this on Protein Wisdom.  Apparently one Chris Seiple would like to tell us about 10 terms that we need use carefully around Muslims.  Jeff knocks the silliness of this concept for the umpteenth time, but I saw one bit that I couldn’t let pass without comment.

5. “Jihadi.” The jihad is an internal struggle first, a process of improving one’s spiritual self-discipline and getting closer to God. The lesser jihad is external, validating “just war” when necessary. By calling the groups we are fighting “jihadis,” we confirm their own – and the worldwide Muslim public’s – perception that they are religious. They are not. They are terrorists, hirabists, who consistently violate the most fundamental teachings of the Holy Koran and mainstream Islamic scholars and imams.

My reply?

Oh, so the fact that westerners call them “Jihadis” is what convinces a sizable cross section of the Muslim population to support violence against civilian targets.  That makes all kinds of sense.  It’s because we validate the bad guys, you see.  Our thoughtless discourse is what creates support for terrorism.  Right.