While I appreciate the sentiment behind this passage, I find the argument that etymology reveals subtle bigotry to be somewhat misguided. The fact that certain words have roots in French or Latin does not in itself imply any kind of bigotry. Furthermore, the connection between the word “pesticide” and The Plague is circumstantial and does not necessarily reflect any kind of bigotry.
It is understandable that one might find the fact that certain words are derived from words meaning “to kill” to be concerning, however this does not necessarily mean that we should view such words as inherently negative. In fact, the etymology of the word “pesticide” can be seen as an example of how language is used to describe the world around us. The word “pesticide” is derived from the Latin “caedere,” which means “to kill,” and is used to describe a substance that is used to kill pests. In this way, the word “pesticide” is an accurate description of the substance it is used to describe.
Furthermore, the notion that insects deserve to be respected and not labeled as “pests” is a valid one, however this does not have anything to do with etymology. While it is true that certain words may have a negative connotation, this does not necessarily reflect any kind of bigotry. In conclusion, the argument that etymology reveals subtle bigotry is not supported by the evidence, and should be viewed with a degree of skepticism.
