The issue may not be semantics but general semantics, Dave. Semantics is about dialects and word choice whereas general semantics is about how language affects people.

S.I.Hayakawa said that the general semantics addresses questions like 'What are you saying if anything?', 'Are you fooling yourself?'

I thought that the words of our holiest leaders and most honored and admired politicians might have played some small role in slaughter. Words might even have been used to motivate people and in the hijacking of planes. I can't imagine mute people hijacking a bunch of planes.

Lack of clarity in their words can be an issue. Concepts and word patterns might play a part in most conflicts. In the book, Getting to Yes, the authors say, 'Understanding the other side's thinking is not simply a useful activity that will help you solve the problem. Their thinking is the problem.' Their thinking is usually in words.

You can call it semantics and bomb the hell out of people, you might even feel teriffic doing it, but that may not get them any closer to accepting your point of view as the truth and the light.