In Search Of The Appropriate Euphemism
Jonathan Yardley takes Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose to task for their convoluted use of language to deny their plagiarism. I liked this description of Goodwin:
Whether this is in truth "her own book" would seem to be a dubious proposition in light of the admission that Goodwin and her assembly line -- three full-time researchers, according to the New York Times, and one part-timer -- had "borrowed" the words and ideas of others, but one is forced to acknowledge that "borrowed" is about as ingenious a euphemism as one can imagine, right up there with "friendly fire" and "courtesy call" and "collateral damage." It simultaneously admits the offense and denies it: Yes, something was taken, but since it was merely "borrowed," it can be given back with no harm done. Why, it really didn't happen at all!
It sounds almost Clintonian, doesn't it?
[Posted at 19:06 CST on 03/05/02] [Link]