“Linda Frank, an attorney for Arlington,… described the Oakmead Drive business as a ‘death camp’” As I read the words "death camp" in quotes, I did a double take and reread them. Then I read the entire article and reread those words several times as they are there in the article, in quotes, twice. Like most, those word evoke feelings in me although I'm quite sure I'm not feeling what Ms. Frank wants me to feel.
I am beyond offended that Ms. Frank would use the term “death camp” in this manner. As she has been licensed in Texas since 1981, she is certainly old enough to understand the true meaning of that term. While I’ve ranted and raved about these cases, I’ve carefully resisted the temptation to call some of these governmental authorities “Nazis” or even “fascists” because I understand what underlies those terms. It is far, far beyond the pale for an attorney representing a governmental agency to refer to an animal business as a “death camp”. Clearly that was intended to escalate and inflame emotions by raising animals to the level of humans; grossly inappropriate in my opinion.
A “death camp” first and foremost is a place where HUMANS are intentionally killed in mass. Millions of PEOPLE; literally MILLIONS of Jews and gentiles were killed in brutal fashion in the concentration camps and extermination camps of Nazi Germany, from whence the term “death camp” comes. This informal use, as Ms. Frank is using it, demeans the term. It is completely outrageous. It reeks of desperation.
Ms. Frank, I’m pretty sure you were raised better than that. As a Georgetown grad, I KNOW you were educated better than that! While I would consider massacre or slaughterhouse to be over the top if used in this case, at least those would be terms referencing animals as well as humans. You had other choices and you chose “death camp”. You are an embarrassment to the profession!
It is no wonder people become polarized and radicalized when a governmental attorney feels free to be so outrageous in open court. In cases like Ms. Frank, I may indeed have to consider using the term fascist as it is now my opinion that Ms. Frank is quite radical and has a bent toward the concept of a no-questions-asked authoritarian style government even at the very local level.
Escalating and inflaming is NOT the job of a City attorney. In fact, winning is NOT the job of a governmental attorney. The job is to impartially investigate and present facts to the judge.
Congratulations Ms. Frank, you just shoved me one step closer to being polarized and radical and I’ll bet I’m not alone.