Words Matter. Truth Matters.

These items landed in my inbox this morning. The first is from the Encyclopedia Brittanica's "On This Day..." Newsletter. The second is from the Act for Change Newsletter.

"1890: U.S. troops under Colonel James W. Forsyth massacred more than 200 Sioux Indians in the Battle of Wounded Knee."

EB correctly calls what happened at Wounded Knee a massacre, then calls it a battle. It was a massacre. You can't have it both ways.

"Judicial appointments -- Despite repeat attempts, four of President Bush's unqualified and ideologically-extreme nominees (Myers (sic), Haynes, Wallace and Boyle) were never confirmed for lifetime appointments to the federal bench. "

Act for Change identifies Harriet Miers as an unqualified and ideologically-extreme Bush nominee for the Supreme Court. She may or may not have been qualified. She was at least as qualified as Sandra Day O'Connor and Clarence Thomas, faint praise though that be, and she was not ideologically-extreme, as far as anyone knew. In fact, that's the main reason why her nomination sank so quickly. She was not known to be extreme enough to satisfy Bush's base. Bush's opponents rejected Ms. Miers because he nominated her. Lacking support from either side, her nomination was scuttled.

Words matter. Truth matters.