With language comes many interpretations. And while reading “The Curious Grammar of Police Shootings” by Radley Balko, I understood the authors insights on how language is used in order to deceive the reader when it comes to gun violence and the police. Obviously the way the language is used in Balkos examples is in favor of the police, and tries as hard as possible to not make them look like the bad guy. A police officer could shoot someone, and get off the hook by calling it an accident, how in any sense is that justified. The same goes for white people, from assault to school shootings, the language used in the some headlines will discuss mental health issues, or how they had a bright future, but not the cruel act itself. And the language not used in these headlines tells a lot, ultimately bringing it to back to the discussion of racial inequality, because this basis is absent when it comes to minorities.
“Everything is in the language we DO NOT use.” This theoretical sentence plays a big part in explaining the interpretation behind the language that is dismissed when discussing polices actions. Balko discusses how the sheriffs/medias explanation for the officers actions is so vague and unformed that any possibility could be considered. And thats exactly what they want. It is obvious they know what happened, as explained in Balkos article, the officer shot a boy in the leg. And through the language they “do not” use, it’s easy to understand that they are trying very hard to make the officer seem as innocent as possible. “Communications officers at police agencies are deft at contorting the English language to minimize the culpability of an officer or the agency by not assigning responsibility.” This is a very important point brought up by Balko. Where is this motive when discussing the crimes of minorities? There is no justifying minorities crimes, but when will police be as vilified as they are and given such harsh punishments as they are?
In my opinion, Balko wants us to feel aware after reading this. He wants us to notice how the media is deceiving us. Even how the language is deceiving us. Its important to have an awareness of these things, and to know that the headlines will make you think what they want you to think. They favor the officers, as Balko proved, and will always portray them as innocent as possible.
I agree with you that language used can act as a form of manipulation and that the language not used brings forth the topic of racial inequality. Your analysis helped me understand that the language not used correlates to the racial injustices found in many circumstances such as headlines dismissing school shooters by saying they are “mentally ill.” I also think that Balko wants us, the readers, to be aware and cautious of how language is deceiving us through many platforms.