Go ahead!...ask us anything!

[Willow]

Excellent questions.

Assasination v Murder.
Its all a question of orthodoxy and usage. We have to remember that English is a living language new words being invented and old words disappearing all the time.
I remember when assassination was only applicable to polititicians or church leaders but in 1980 the New York Times ran a front page story with the headline "John Lennon Assassinated" - afterwards I noticed that assassinations were applied to the murder of famous people as well.
Its a gruesome example but its this shows us the beauty of the language.

Just like homicide is a general term for the killing of humans, murder is also fairly generic. For example, someone who has been murdered could have been the victim of infanticide - the killing of a child. Interestingly, a few hundred years ago, infanticide was not considered murder in England. So you see how the language changes.

So basically, assassination is just a 'lingo' sub group of murder. The premeditated killing of a publicfigure as opposed to the premeditated killing of Joe Bloggs. The fascinating thing is that 20 years from now, it may have different meaning again.

 

[imported_Outlaw]

You're a smart man Willow. Thanks for that peice mate.

Here is his answer ;
Although one person's assassin is sometimes another person's political hero, I think we can all agree that the practice is not very nice.
The act of assassination has, of course, a long history.However, the word we now use for it goes back a mere 1,000 years or so to the Crusades, in which Christian knights tried to retake the Holy Land from those who believed in the Prophet Mohammed. Crusading was a messy business that engendered some pretty hard feelings--and harsher reprisals-- among those who rightly took exception to being called the scourge of God. A few of these followers of Islam banded together to knock off the Crusaders, one by one. And to get themselves up for this perilous, often deadly mission, they smoked hashish. Those who partook were known as "hashshashin," from whence comes the word we use today.

Now that's interesting!

 

[ex-manager]

If someone steals from a house in London they say it was burgled, yet if the same act occurs in New York or Chicago it was burglarized.

Why can't Americans say fridge? It's always refrigerator.

Why do the yanks turn on a faucet to get some water? You can bet your bottom dollar the Frogs are behind that one.

Why can't the Yanks pronounce Lagos, Gaza, Kosovo, Iran and many other places correctly?

Why aren't Jays ever arrested for Jaywalking?

 

[imported_Raging Bulldog]

And to get themselves up for this perilous, often deadly mission, they smoked hashish. Those who partook were known as "hashshashin,"
That's got to be a joke, right Outlaw? Ask you mate if he's yanking our chain or not.... I'm still bewildered.

Raging Bulldog

 

[imported_Outlaw]

'Tis no joke according to Lester. I know it sounds kinda far fetched RB, and almost laughable, but he swears 'tis the truth.

His source for the info is DICTIONARY OF WORD ORIGINS by Jordan Almond

 

[ex-manager]

It's true! From the encarta dictionary. Assassin [Mid-16th century. Via French, from, ultimately, Arabic ?ašašin, literally ‘hashish users’, denoting a group of 11th-century Ismaili Muslims who murdered Christian leaders.]

 

[imported_Outlaw]

Allright. I'll stop abusing Lester now. LOL! Cheers for that Gav.

 

[imported_Reservoir Dog]

Thanks Willow

 

[imported_Raidpatch]

Boxing: In the fight between Muhammad Ali and JoeFrazier number one, Ali refered to Frazier as an Uncle Tom. Now I'm pretty sure that thatis an African-American term, for an African-American who tends to favour the 'white mans' way of thinking and following,and so forth (as Frazier admitted during the documentary), but what or why exactly the name Tom?
What is its origins? Is it an expression that is widely used to this day in America.

I'm hoping either Canadian Steve or Vertigo (our overseas guests) can answer that for me. It's fascinated me ever since I viewed the documentary. Of course it's open to anyone who can assist.

Raidpatch

 

[El Duque]

Raidpathch,this site (http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/uncle_tom.htm ) seems to give the answer to Uncle Tom.

 

[imported_Raidpatch]

Many thanks indeed for that El Duque. I'm surprised that it's originsare from a novel rather than a real life character.


Raidpatch.

 

[Atilla]

That really is an excellent question Raidpatch. It had me thinking whenI first heard the term (in aboxing articlefirst actually) and decided to trace its origins as well.


Here is the link to the novel which you can read (if you please) in its entirity on line:

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new?id=StoCabi&tag=public&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&part=0
There are actually quite a few webpages which have the novel in its entirity (if you do a search engine for 'Uncle Tom'), but I found the top link easiest on the eyes. You may choose another of course.

Cheers - Atilla

 

[Atilla]

One last thing Raidpatch. You'll find that the term comes from an actual real life character.
This explains what I mean:

Born in slavery, June 15, 1789 in Charles County Maryland, Josiah Henson was the youngest of sixchildren - later to be separated from his siblings by Slave Auction. He escaped in 1830 to Upper Canada via the "Underground Railroad." In 1841, he and other slaves, Quaker supporters and abolitionists, purchased over 200 acres of rich land on the River Sydenham in the Dresden vicinity and established a vocational school, the British American Institute for fugitive slaves. A sawmill and grist mill were built and a considerable number of former slaves settled here. In 1849, Josiah Henson narrated his life experiences to author Harriet Beecher Stowe, and following her novel in 1852 his name became synonymous with "Uncle Tom." After emancipation in 1863, many returned to the United States, but Henson continued to occupy his house in Dresden until his death in 1883, and is buried nearby.
Good day - Atilla

 

This message has been deleted by the author.

 

[Willow]

I'd say its from Uncle Toms Cabin,a novel by Harriett Beecher Stowe which is etched into American culture.
I think Uncle Tom was an elderly black man who was born into slavery and worked all his life to die a free man. Could have it slightly wrong there.
Its based on a true story.
I have no idea why Ali chose this as a nickname for Frazier.

 

This message has been deleted by the author.

 

[Willow]

Wow, I see a few pounced on the Uncle Tom question.

Gotta be quick around here.

 

[Willow]

Thanks for that warlock. Always good to have a bitof hot air around as well as actual contributors.

 

This message has been deleted by the author.

 

[ex-manager]

This might get a few brain cells working overtime (Then again it might not). What is the name for those little worm like light images you get when you close your eyes?