It “Tsunami Tuesday” insensitive?
Don Day February 1st, 2008
Sree Sreenivasan at the South Asian Journalists Association says the use of the term “Tsuami Tuesday” is insensitive.
Some folks in the press are calling it “Tsunami Tuesday” in reference to the huge wave of major results about to come. Something in the back of my head makes me uneasy about that term, which has gained popularity only this presidential cycle, the first since the Asian/South Asian tsunami of 2004. It seems to be a term that’s in bad taste, at the very least, considering almost 300,000 people perished in that tsunami. Am I being too PC?
Next time something unexpected happens, let’s make sure not to say “political earthquake.” When the election data comes in, don’t say “a flood of returns.” If Barack Obama jumps to a big lead, don’t say “he’s on fire!” If Obama makes a mistake, don’t say “what a train wreck.” When John McCain avoids Mitt Romeny, don’t say “he avoided him like the plague.” I could go on and on - but the point is this: People aren’t saying “South Asian Tsunami Tuesday.” Yes, 300,000 people died - but lots of people die lots of ways - and we still use those terms in everyday language.
15 Comments Add your own
1. Anonymous | February 1st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Agreed, but the idea for Tsunami Tuesday was that the results would propel a candidate to the nomination in a Tsunami, but that’s unlikely on the Democratic side. Tsunami seems predictive, rather than descriptive.
2. Charles | February 1st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I never did get why people started calling it “tsunami Tuesday.” Isn’t “super Tuesday” good enough?
3. discreet_chaos | February 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Charles - Traditionally Super Tuesday has been in March, so the whirlwind of Feb 5 is like a new monster.
4. discreet_chaos | February 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
…darn, I should’ve went with avalanche!
5. Anonymous | February 1st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I hate how it looks like alliteration with a silent letter. Just call it Super Tuesday.
6. Don Day | February 1st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
There’s a bunch of them… “a cancer” - “kill ‘em” - “tidal wave of publicity” - “storm of controversy” - “explodes on to the scene.”
Point is, there’s no malice or negative intent.
7. Rob | February 1st, 2008 at 9:40 pm
1. He’s being too PC.
2. What Would Dan Rather Say?
8. Charles | February 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
discreet_chaos: Thanks!
9. Dave | February 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
How about Titanic Tuesday because many of the candidates will be… ohh… oh… too soon?
10. Rob | February 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 am
I hope that on Mediocre Wednesday morning we’re referring to it as Obama Tuesday.
11. Contrarian | February 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
I guess “Super Tuesday” wasn’t exciting enough for today’s newskids?
12. tdc | February 3rd, 2008 at 4:46 am
how about Tsalami Tuesday?
(’cause come weds. it’s back to baloney)
13. Safran | February 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Funny - TV news is usually so sensitive.
14. Bud Packer | February 4th, 2008 at 5:02 am
I like Taco Tuesday because two tacos are just 99 cents at Taco Johns in Bloomington, Indiana.
15. Wenalway | February 4th, 2008 at 9:14 am
People who try to restrict language are — dare I say it? — trying to hold back a tidal wave with a broom.
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