The Big City

I just heard a journalist on the BBC’s Newshour programme talking about the young Canadian men accused today of planning a bombing campaign. While discussing the implications of the fact that five of the people charged were under 18 he said that people were concerned that there was a “jihad generation” of young people emerging, with more militant views than their parents. What an ugly expression and how attractive it will prove to bad journalists. I am almost tempted to start a Site of Shame charting those hacks who use or avoid using it.

I was also rather alarmed by a picture supplied by the Associated Press captioned “Police seized an array of bomb-making materials”. As far as I could tell the only thing in the bag of bomb-making equipment that I don’t own is what looks like a PMR446 walkie-talkie, and I have been considering buying a couple of those. It’s a good job I garden organically or I might be in real trouble.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Canada charges 17 terror suspects