RT list: metarepresenting Rumsfeld

From: Francisco Yus (F.YUS@mail.ono.es)
Date: Sun Dec 07 2003 - 18:30:01 GMT

  • Next message: Jlsperanza@aol.com: "Re: RT list: metarepresenting Rumsfeld"

    Several metarepresentational levels required to access what Rumsfeld "really knows":

    From ABC News Online
    Rumsfeld wins 'Foot in Mouth' award
    A bizarre comment by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the hunt for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction has been awarded the "Foot in Mouth" prize by Britain's Plain English Campaign.

    Mr Rumsfeld, renowned for his uncompromising tough talking, received the prize for the most baffling comment by a public figure.

    "Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know," Rumsfeld told a press briefing.

    "We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.

    "But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know."

    John Lister, spokesman for the campaign which strives to have public information delivered in clear, straightforward English, said: "We think we know what he means. But we don't know if we really know."

    Mr Rumsfeld, whose boss US President George W Bush is often singled out by language critics for his sometimes unusual use of English, took the booby prize ahead of a bizarre effort from actor-turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    "I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman," was the odd statement from the new California Governor.



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