Of course, your opinions are more important than the blog — that’s the whole point. I was going to write something new — but wanted to respond to Maria. It is unfortunate that you feel I used the term “social Down’s Syndrome” in a shallow way to describe stupid. I didn’t. Just because someone has a condition does not mean that they are a poster person for voluntary ignorance, that is an assumption and quite incorrect. My use of the term was more along these lines: Due to the inheritance of too much genetic material from a parent, without the biological maturity to assimilate the information contained, development of certain systems in the body is impaired. Sufferers can appear normal and lead healthy lives.
How is this not a considered description of Mr Malema? Are we going to simply find a clever word for “stupid” … or are we going to try and contextualise him?
And then there’s Mr Latino — if you feel that ET and Julius are so vastly different, I would make a list of all the things they have in common, and then all the things they don’t. If you’re honest in your lists, you will see evidence there that supports the liberal idea that all people are pretty much equal … both parties have made a huge fuss over minor differences between groups of people.
Besides that, why does sitting in a tree make them supposedly the same — the title is a joke on a poem from my tween days, a childish and sweet allusion to kissing, a naive image of national unity — perhaps a wish that our left and right one day bear fruit, a sort of colourless, centrist and fleshy thing, sweet and easy to swallow … and please don’t accuse me of myopia, you know how Maria feels about using actual conditions to describe limited perception … let’s keep up the discourse, the very point of this site.
I think you’re going to find that there are many so-called open-minded Thoughtleader readers whose speciality is taking umbrage.
But I’m sure a man of your credentials is not going to be too concerned with causing offence.
You don’t have to dignify these readers with responses. Just keeping writing the good stuff.
It’s great to see you writing here, I loved your previous extended culinary metaphor and I’m looking forward to more.
You shouldn’t get into the habit of explaining everything you write. People will get used to your style, and eventually the “penny will drop”.
Have fun. I look forward to more.
I’ve fallen in the same trap. Sometimes setting people straight is more rewarding than the actual thought that triggered the blog. But perhaps John should do so in the comments section. After all, education is important. How else will we evolve?
Good suggestion, much better. Thx.
Enough attention is given to these disagreeable individuals who contribute sweet little to the growth and advancement of our beautiful yet confused nation. Let us rather turn our attentions towards more intresting matters,(you are entitled to contend this previous statement) like global warming. I wonder John; what your thoughts leader, ha ha, would be on the Eyjafjallajokul volcanic eruptions in Iceland?? Quite magnificent that blast was, unless your the CEO of Brtish Airways; then it was a utter disaster!! What do you think??
If you want to respond to those who comment about your blog, why don’t you use the 250 words allotted in the section for comments?
I don’t begrudge you your comment but I do wish we got to see more intellingent writing than blog comments in blog format.
You’re wasting our space! Actually, I realise you doubtless believe it’s your space…