via Abu Aardvark:
Reading it makes clear that the parts of Fernandez’s comments which have been quoted extensively are mostly a throat clearing preface to saying that Arabs need to move on and talk about Iraq’s future instead of “gloating” over American problems. This is a way of establishing credibility and a reputation for candor with Arab audiences – two things that almost all American spokespeople who stick to the administration’s script lack. His humility treats those audiences with respect, rather than trying to force talking points crafted in Washington down the throats of skeptical listeners who live in the region and know better.
Furor over Amb. Fernandez’ comments on Al Jazeera is incredibly misplaced. What’s lacking in the coverage is the context, which makes clear that he was using the part about arrogance as a set up to engage the Arab world, not simply talk down to it.
Read Abu Aardvark’s whole post, but definitely click the link about spinning in other languages.
Much of my research and work has been on the use of rhetoric, I’m fascinated by it. What it really boils down to is that those who too blunlty and overtly spin aren’t that bright, though surely brighter than those who fall for it, but there are ways of framing one’s rhetoric for a particular audience that can achieve a sense of commonality or reduce the likelihood that the audience’s perceptual force fields, meant to deflect non-ideologically conforming thought, can be brought down. Erasmus, Hobbes, early 20th century Imagists, and modern day linguists all say the same essential thing — how we use language matters, both explicityly and implicitly, and we must therefore take care to ensure its careful use.
