Mourning word choices

With regard to personal tragedy involving victims, it has become commonplace in print, digital and broadcast media to refer to memorials and related activities as “honoring the victim(s).”

Words are important, and this specific misuse is simply bad journalism.

Victims are just that, victims. There is neither honor nor disgrace in being a victim. Victims can and should be appropriately mourned, but the term honor should be reserved for individuals who demonstrated a selfless act that led to their demise.

Also, the two most overused words of the decade appear to be “amazing” and “awesome.” Overuse has rendered them meaningless adjectives and reflects a lack of vocabulary on the part of the user.

The Spokesman-Review and local television reporters should try to get this right. The media need to lead the way.

Steve Clemens

Fairfield