Some of the language used about the bulldozing of refugees temporary shelter at Calais has been revealing.

The BBC has repeatedly used the word ‘clear’ in its various reports, which I would argue is something done to get rid of rubbish, mess (or possibly to forests.)

This was a term also used by other British media figures such as LBC radio’s Nick Ferrari.

The German press, Deutsche Welle called it “a raid” (something usually done against criminals) and quoted extensively from the British Home Affairs minister and the German Immigration minister.

It was only then that they gave some space to a different perspective: a spokesperson from the UN Refugee Agency. This was done under the heading of “[The] Problem of illegal immigration continues.”

So to them the problem is somehow one of illegal immigration, not for example, the sub-standard living conditions of the mainly Afghan refugees, many of whom are children.

Unfortunately, the French socialist politician Jack Lang also put it clumsily when he stated that the French government’s arrest of the Calais refugees was “simply raking the leaves from one side to another.”

http://www.bretthetherington.net/Modules/Blog/Pages/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryId=398

The BBC has repeatedly used the word ‘clear’ in its various reports, which I would argue is something done to get rid of rubbish, mess (or possibly to forests.)

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WOW. Thanks for shining light on this disturbing term that's being so widely used, it's become a mainstream news meme. I totally agree. How could it sound like anything but a violent, raid-like act? I hope you copy & paste what you wrote below in an email to the BBC (or, just share this link with them). They need to be called out!!

"Raking the leaves from one side to another."

???

Eeesh. Think before you speak, people! Rhetoric (the conscious use of language) CAN be used for good, but it looks like this example was plucked straight from a worst-case scenario handbook.

There is a euphemism for everything unpleasant,  from "clearing" refugee camps, to "passing on" to "passing gas".  There is nothing disrespectful about this.