But (XIV)
From a letter by Keith Hannaford in the Saturday Telegram. Yeah, yeah, technically this is a "though", and a rare inverted double-"but" — yeah, yeah, an "even if" — as well:
Danny Williams' recent phone call to Randy Simms on VOCM is evidence that, while the economy may be prospering in this province, public discourse is most certainly not.
It is appalling that any public figure, let alone a premier, would throw that kind of tantrum on a call-in radio show.
...
Though I am concerned with some aspects of this province's affairs that I feel are being neglected or mishandled, overall I am pleased to have Danny Williams at the helm (even if I would rather he had a little more substantial opposition).
Labels: but
posted by WJM @ 11:16 PM
2 Comments:
WJM,
Perhaps the reason why there are so many "buts" is because many people in this province feel that they can support a leader without bowing down and dogmatically worshipping him. Conversely, and closer to my position, they feel they can call attention to his mistakes without ignoring his successes.
Either way, Danny is deserving of both support and criticism. I feel genuinely conflicted about Danny, as I see both his shining achievements and his glaring flaws. Why shouldn't I express that in a letter to the editor? Who are you to ridicule that expression?
I can tell you've read a few too many newspapers, blogs, and comment forums because now all you see is black and white: Danny has to be praised or denounced and never shall a "but" be seen. Politics doesn't work that way, the province doesn't work that way, and the world does't work that way.
Keith Hannaford
Thank you for not being anonymous!
My ongoing series of "but" postings is not an attempt to "ridicule" anything. It is merely a lament for the fact that, even as some relatively mild voices of discontent and criticism have emerged in the past 12 to 18 months, a very large proportion of them qualify even the most tempered of discontent or criticism with the caveat along the lines of "Now, I support the Premier, but...".
I've even heard one guy on the radio start his mild criticism with, "Now I love Danny Williams as much as the next person, but...".
That kind of language isn't ridiculous. It's scary.
Cheers!
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