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speak easy

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18. Assassination : 'The murder by sudden or secret attack of a prominent political leader'

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:26 AM

Sep 12

Merriam Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassination

Firs perfectly. An 'assassination' if the English language means anything. Pretending otherwise is mendacious.

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I really hate the use of the term 'assassination' in regards to the Kirk murder... [View all] Wounded Bear Sep 12 OP

I agree. SheltieLover Sep 12 #1

It wasn't used much after the UHC murder. bucolic_frolic Sep 12 #2

I think that's because the CEO of an insurance company isn't technically a political figure. ShazzieB Sep 12 #38

Agreed. bucolic_frolic Sep 12 #40

True -- but he was overtly political in a way that a business executive usually is not. ShazzieB Sep 12 #49

True, but I don't remember Republicans using that term dgauss Sep 12 #52

Me, neither! ShazzieB Sep 12 #57

Chaps my butt, too. Kennedy was assasinated, Ghandi was assasinated. Kirk was murdered. marble falls Sep 12 #3

Pretty much meets definition. Silent Type Sep 12 #4

Agreed Prairie Gates Sep 12 #7

assassinate: GreenWave Sep 12 #31

In what way was Kirk not prominent? ShazzieB Sep 12 #50

Agree. It doesnt fit here. BannonsLiver Sep 12 #5

The word is misused a lot. valleyrogue Sep 12 #6

Not political official. Melon Sep 12 #11

So then MLK was not assassinated? The Revolution Sep 12 #30

Apples and oranges. ShazzieB Sep 12 #54

How about "offed" to counterbalance the deification of this community college dropout? GreenWave Sep 12 #32

John Lennon was far more "prominent" than was Charlie Kirk, of spooky3 Sep 12 #53

The term applies and it sure seems like it was professionally done. themaguffin Sep 12 #8

Definition Melon Sep 12 #9

You left out "a prominent person" GreenWave Sep 12 #33

I would say he was a prominent person. And he was killed for political reasons. forthemiddle Sep 12 #37

Obviously fits the definition if you include that. Melon Sep 12 #43

This was just a gun murder. Plain and simple. Scrivener7 Sep 12 #10

To consider using that term is downright odd, isn't it? As alarming as it was hearing Trump claiming he's a "star" Judi Lynn Sep 12 #12

I heard tell the couch is breaking up with him! GreenWave Sep 12 #34

He may have to turn to a love seat! Judi Lynn Sep 12 #47

This case Greg_In_SF Sep 12 #13

Read 'em and weep 'em GreenWave Sep 12 #35

From the OED (they did invent the language, after all) EYESORE 9001 Sep 12 #14

Assassination : 'The murder by sudden or secret attack of a prominent political leader' speak easy Sep 12 #18

Them's fightin' words EYESORE 9001 Sep 12 #19

Mendacious? Not you, the OP. speak easy Sep 12 #21

Sorry. I'm a bit on edge today EYESORE 9001 Sep 12 #23

We are all a bit on edge today/ speak easy Sep 12 #24

Firs? GreenWave Sep 12 #36

Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden or secret attack, of a person--especially if prominent or important. Celerity Sep 12 #15

Yes, John Lennon was assassinated. Sneederbunk Sep 12 #16

I would agree with that. Celerity Sep 12 #17

I respectfully disagree. ShazzieB Sep 12 #56

It was a school shooting Johonny Sep 12 #20

Your not alone. It elevates his ordinary murder to being more important than it really is. QueerDuck Sep 12 #22

Kirk was collateral damage on Trump's Fifth Avenue America. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Sep 12 #25

I'd call it "taking out the trash". But I know we're still in the performative outrage stage of the incident. Aristus Sep 12 #26

My favourite line from "Grace Quigley", "But Ma, that would be murder!" "No, it is niyad Sep 12 #45

The other deaths were the price of freedom. dgauss Sep 12 #55

School shooting. Not assassination. Unless all murdered children are also. cbabe Sep 12 #27

I hate that it is accurate SSJVegeta Sep 12 #28

Technically it's accurate - an assassination usually refers to the targeted killing Ocelot II Sep 12 #29

But the word as used is emotionally, deliberately, loaded to produce niyad Sep 12 #44

That is also true. Ocelot II Sep 12 #46

Equally, the description of him as "conservative". I know the terms are thoroughly blurred, but... JHB Sep 12 #39

The problem with using the word now is we still don't know what the motive was. Wiz Imp Sep 12 #41

Absolutely agree!!! niyad Sep 12 #42

Too many people here on DU using it, and hence buying into the RW narrative. Crunchy Frog Sep 12 #48

When a public figure is shot from.a rooftop during Klarkashton Sep 12 #51

i prefer the term "mercy killing". ret5hd Sep 12 #58