Newspapers here use the term friendly fire to describe the wounding or killing of soldiers by allied gunmen. At one time this might have been described as deadly error, fatal incompetence, or in the case of a civilian, manslaughter. While a touch of gentility often betrays kindness, the euphemisms for killing or maiming are nothing but a whitewash.
And there are lots of them. Others that come quickly to mind include fallout, side-effects, collateral damage, and unintended consequences. They’re all designed to let the perpetrators off the hook, or to excuse innovation and action without foresight.
An article called Good Intentions begins;
Must we persist in innovating without anticipating the broad consequences of our actions? It as if good intentions alone excuse narrow vision. Doctors and drug companies were not driven by malice to profer Thalidomide to pregnant women. Henry Ford’s wildest dreams failed to reveal the social fallout which would accompany his production system. And the corporate innovators of television technology and broadcasting were only “doing their thing”
From Media & Education,
Ach mein Gott! When one begins quoting oneself it must be an early sign of senility (<;
