““I became aware of the overwhelming role of language in contemporary politics shortly before the 9/11 attacks. At that time, the word “homeland” was practically unused in the American vernacular. It had a slightly archaic sound to it, and was invoked generally only as a stilted translation of the German heimat, or as a euphemism for the bantustans created by South Africa’s apartheid government in its policy to rid itself of the native population.””
