I try not to be insufferably pedantic, but there are times when the misuse of language is too much.
“Religious Leaders, Lawmakers Outraged Over Trump’s Church Visit”
“President Trump Faces Criticism Over Church Visit”
Now, I know I’m not the most genteel person, but I have a basic understanding of what “visiting” entails. Should you wish to visit someone, it is polite to call ahead to make sure it is a good time. Attention should be paid to dress and demeanor when visiting, to show respect for one’s hosts. While not required, a small gift for the host—food, wine, an object d’art—demonstrates good breeding in the visitor.
Generally, it’s considered bad form when visiting to use war materiel to force one’s way uninvited into the hosts’ home, to forcibly eject the hosts and their other guests.
Such actions do have proper names, and I urge those who discuss the events of the day as their vocation to learn them.
“Assault.” “Invasion.” “Incursion.” “Raid.” “Strike.” “Attack.”
I’m certain there are others. Do those who write for a living still own thesauruses?
Sorry to pick at such a small nit, but calling what would be, on any battlefield, a war crime a “visit” stretches the meaning of the word beyond the breaking point, and the credibility of the speaker or writer to the same degree.
Please, scribblers, have some respect for what I assume to be your native tongue. The president of the United States called a military strike on civilians and ordered an assault on an American church. Because his daughter thought it would make a cool campaign commercial.
There you go. Clean, concise, accurate.
I’m so glad we could have this little visit.