MANICHAEAN
07-23-2010, 03:03 AM
Is it my imagination or are politicians becoming more contrived & obtuse than they were before? What must be done to allow them the freedom to speak like normal people? I've nothing against patriotism or articles of religious faith, but do we so many times when listening to a political speech have to have constant referrals to greatness past or present, or the sanction of Divine Providence in our national affairs? But that, of course is the whole trouble when greatness, undefined, is made into an objective in its own right. Is there a danger that a country can be excessively distracted from its practical problems by the quest for an elusive greatness?
Then thereis the question of speech patterns. Should they conform to a norm rather like the old BBC news presenter, or is there an alternate extreme that can be downright irritating? The Rev Ian Paisley in Northern Ireland used to "shout" rather than "speak", somewhat akin to Newt Gringrich across the Pond. Margaret Thatcher in a combative mood used to visibly move the furniture in the House of Commons with her original style of addressing Her Majesty's loyal opposition. Then she adopted her "modulated" tone, a bit like Nancy Pelosi today. Then there is of course, He who "pontificates", but I better not go down that road!
Then thereis the question of speech patterns. Should they conform to a norm rather like the old BBC news presenter, or is there an alternate extreme that can be downright irritating? The Rev Ian Paisley in Northern Ireland used to "shout" rather than "speak", somewhat akin to Newt Gringrich across the Pond. Margaret Thatcher in a combative mood used to visibly move the furniture in the House of Commons with her original style of addressing Her Majesty's loyal opposition. Then she adopted her "modulated" tone, a bit like Nancy Pelosi today. Then there is of course, He who "pontificates", but I better not go down that road!