Quote by Christopher Hitchens
' it used to be called, even by Jews. 'The Jewish Question.' I find I quite like this interrogative formulation, since the question as Gertrude Stein once famously if terminally put it may be more absorbing than the answer. Of course one is flirting with calamity in phrasing things this way, as I learned in school when the Irish question was discussed by some masters as the Irish 'problem.' Again, the word 'solution' can be as neutral as the words 'question' or 'problem,' but once one has defined a people or a nation as such, the search for a resolution can become a yearning for the conclusive. : the final solution.
Summary
This quote reflects on the language used to refer to complex and sensitive issues relating to specific groups of people. The author remarks on the historical use of terms like 'Jewish Question' and 'Irish problem,' highlighting how these phrases can shape and manipulate perceptions. The author draws attention to the power of language and suggests that viewing such issues as inscrutable questions rather than definitive problems or solutions can allow for deeper understanding and avoid potential harmful consequences.
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