>Despite the similarity of spelling and pronunciation, the words mean different things.<

Well yeah, that was sort of the whole point of this thread... but you're right, in that "contemn" is a whole lot meaner than "forget". On the other hand, it's pretty easy to get from one to the other as in this list of synonyms:

Syn: To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate; overlook.

It's mostly a matter of degree; and in any case, I still prefer condemn in this context.

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