By which is meant, when you withdraw the rapier to prepare to strike again, as parry means to deflect and thrust is thrust. Crossing swords naturally refers to former President Carter’s blunt criticism over the weekend of current President Bush, particularly his foreign policy. Can’t get harsher than say “the worst,” which is the quote.
Carter chose an unexpected conduit: an interview with my Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the intention was to have been mere promotion of a book.
All sorts of commentators hopped on. About half said of Bush, gotcha! The the other half said, Carter’s one to talk — a single-termer with abysmal records.
Then Jimmy Carter through the major media retracted and apologized. He said the usual bits about his words being taken out of context and being misinterpreted — but he does not seem to have denied them.
All three facets are available broadly online. The Demzette’s religion editor wrote the original piece and has blogged about it extensively.
Carter in his term was well-intentioned but served just four years for a reason. I hesitate to call his policies just as bad as George II’s, because we did survive 1977-81 but it remains to be seen if the U.S. will outlive this guy’s administration. Even Carter’s critics acknowledge he has spent his retirement decades in commendable service to the country and other nations. Whatever he didn’t grasp in the ’70s, Carter since became wiser; what he wrote about Israel’s bullying needed to be said — even if it’s wrong in parts — and by someone of his stature.
All Jimmy Carter said in the phone call to Little Rock, he meant. When he later softened it, the move just meant he intended only to wound. The critics, including editorialists close to my heart, say this is just like Carter, to thrust and if not parry, dart away and retreat, like a loser. I think it’s deliberate and that Carter won the round.
Of both halves of the commentators, I bet nearly all would agree, if asked whether Carter meant his original comments, they’d say yes. Carter knows better than to try to destroy the reputation of Bush — that’d make him a laughingstock — but Carter can do some damage, cement some opposition of the current White House resident. That’s done even if he sincerely says: Never mind.
We’ve all done this, and that’s the proof. You make your point — at work or at school, to a spouse or relative: Hit hard then back off. Once in a while it backfires, perhaps disastrously. But most of the time, we get away with it. We make our point — but don’t get fired … but don’t get sent to the couch for the night. Hint for amateurs like me: Once or twice a year is the maximum. Your results may vary.
I don’t know much about fencing, but I do know standing up for yourself. In movie swordplay, each guy thrusts with his and parries off the jabs of the opponent. Whether or not either makes contact, they withdraw their blades.
To go at it again with a full swing. -30-
