There are still many degrees of rudeness in English above "Shut up".
Indeed... But while these "linguistic experts" are sitting here trying to downplay Chirac's Faux Pas, they have utterly ignored the context behind it..
I say who cares if he said "shut up", or that "they have missed a fine opportunity to be quiet.."??
It equates to a brazen attempt to quash any dissent from Eastern European nations.. And it was a defacto demand that these nations fall in line behind France and Germany, as if Chirac perceived he had some right to demand them of them...
And I don't believe he has apologized yet.. (at least a quick netquery showed none).
So Zonder, and everyone else, should spend less time analyzing "the how" and focus more on "the why"...
And now for another perspective on the issue:
scrappleface.com
Chirac Offers New EU Members 'Freedom of Silence'
(2003-02-18) -- Jacques Chirac last night offered "liberté de silence" (freedom of silence) to the 13 nations which are candidates for European Union (EU) membership.
"One of the great things about the European Union is that you'll never have to speak your mind," said the French President. "Just listen to what France says, and agree. That's why we call it a Union. We're all together."
Chirac expressed concern that the candidate-nations may not realize they have this freedom because they have publicly supported the position of the United States with regard to Iraqi disarmament.
"In our orientation class," said M. Chirac, "These nations will learn that we call this organization L'Union européenne, or L'UE...never EU, which of course means Etats-Unis (United States)."
He conceded that it sometimes takes a while for new member nations to learn their proper places, and how to enjoy the freedom of silence, "but one would think some of these Eastern European nations would be good at it."
Hawk |
