Quote:
Originally Posted by Kindleing
Yes - in the US (at least the parts I am familiar with) the term "lynch", or "lynch mob" has only very recently been redefined to exclusively apply to racist hangings. As Leebase said, it has routinely been used as a slang term for "mob punishment" of anybody for anything and seldom refers to actual hanging - which would be illegal. It is still a little jarring to me that "hanging" now automatically carries a racial connotation since hanging horse thieves, among others, was once considered proper.
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I'm not suggesting that in America, lynch mob isn't primarily about historical racial injustice. Because it is.
I'm saying that the phrase "lynch mob" is used to borrow from that tragedy and apply it to current mob action. Same with calling someone a Nazi or a White Supremecist...or a racist.
It's all emotionally laden rhetoric....on purpose.