GIJ Politics The Sophisticated Rhetoric

“There is a world of difference between the fine use of words

and the use of fine words.” 

– Ravi Zacharias.

VI. The Sophisticated Rhetoric

One of the reasons I believe I may have been a bad politician in GIJ is that I am usually less concerned about being politically correct. I am more interested, instead, in saying what I know to be true and I do not mince words when this passion moves me. An auxiliary reason for which I do not relish GIJ politics is the circumlocution of idiolect in that sphere. Look at that. What am I even saying? I mean I hate the big useless words they use.

When you hear some of these student politicians talk –and they talk all the time- you wonder if clear and simple language is a constitutional crime. They doodle with words and end up cutting the very branches on which their arguments sit. They mistake volume for content and raise their voices when they should instead be raising their case. Now, I have come to accept this as one of the necessary evils we shall have to deal with in a communication school: few talk because they have something to say. Most of us talk because we have to say something. 

Let me tell you my favorite gag on this subject.

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Watson, went on a camping trip. After a long day’s work, they enjoyed some refreshments, pitched their tent under the stars and fell soundly asleep. In the middle of the night, Sherlock Holmes woke up, looked into sky and dug his elbow into Watson. 

“Look up. What do you see?” he asked.

“I see stars and stars and more stars” came the reply from Watson.

“What does that tell you, Watson?”

Watson pondered for a minute.

“Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Why, what does it tell you, Holmes?”

Holmes was silent for a moment then spoke: “Watson, you idiot. Someone has stolen out tent!”

Exposition

You can be like Watson in speech and still miss the most important point.