Not pompous (I hope), Mike ... just an independent, impartial, objective observer.
Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion(s); no problems there. So let's hear them, folks!
But as I may have said on here in the past:- like the idea of "good will", tolerance (decency, and all those other good civilized attributes) only works when all parties can agree what it actually means, and what obligations it sets upon those involved.
For instance, crazy (criminal, murderous) folk running wild, armed, seeking "respect" ("revenge", or simply to satisfy their own warped sense of entitlement) and outside of any lawful control, are hardly likely to be swayed by fine words, be they issued by Nelson Mandela or indeed anyone else. Not much communication going on there then, I would have thought.
I know from personal experience that it's very difficult to debate the finer points of an argument with folk who are throwing rocks (or even, petrol bombs) at you.
Meanwhile, here's another phrase that has seemingly taken on a whole new meaning:-
"Arab Spring"!
I wonder who (at the BBC?) came up with that one?
Surely that's yet another sweeping generalization (and one that could be better described for what it actually is), or "catch all" phrase (media shorthand) for consumption by the dumbed-down masses of the world. Tunisia is not Libya. Libya is not Egypt. Egypt is not Syria ... and so forth.
Like all this stuff, if folk hear it often enough, they actually believe it to be true. Sometimes, if all goes according to plan, they might even start
chanting the phrase itself. It becomes the
mantra. Big Brother? NWO? Yes, that's the idea.
