Reply to: Will Smith punches Chris Rock

[SueEllen]

By "Sound bite" you mean something simplistically content free but melodious sounding that stops the need for rational thought?

Yep.

Thank a certain Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair for this.

[vetran]

By "Sound bite" you mean something simplistically content free but melodious sounding that stops the need for rational thought?

Sadly that is how the yoof and simple minded make decisions.

[malvolio]

In the era of sound bite media it is about the words.

By "Sound bite" you mean something simplistically content free but melodious sounding that stops the need for rational thought?

[vetran]

THe EU wasn't around in the 40s so I doubt they made this claim. I forget the dates from GCSE History - we had to learn the dates the EEC, EC and EU were formed, who the members were, yada yada. Did it have an even earlier iteration? Come on Gibbon, you can post something useful and relevant for once...

The claim was made relatively recently by remainers when they were awarded the Nobel peace prize. Many people were amused because most of us thought it was Oppenheimer who achieved this.

https://www.newstatesman.com/world/2...d-peace-europe

A few years ago, the EU was awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The Scottish Herald described the award as ‘crass’, one which would inflame ‘tensions when many of the EU’s 500 million citizens have been thrown into penury by the worst recession since the 1930s.’ I remember some thought it was a joke. Lord Lamont was quoted saying the decision was ‘preposterous and absurd.’

But the Nobel committee was serious. It applauded the EU for its contribution over six decades to ‘the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe’ and being instrumental in ‘transforming most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.’

Now, the Remain campaign point to the attainment of peace in Europe as one if its highest ranking achievements. Whatever else it may have or have not done, the Union has helped avoid war between the current members of the EU since 1945. David Cameron makes that very point today, reminding us that countries previously at ‘each others’ throats’ now lived and worked together for peace. Even Boris Johnson in the Leave camp has been reluctant to contradict the assertion. He says the EU was ‘born of the highest motives – to keep the peace in Europe.’

[malvolio]

THe EU wasn't around in the 40s so I doubt they made this claim. I forget the dates from GCSE History - we had to learn the dates the EEC, EC and EU were formed, who the members were, yada yada. Did it have an even earlier iteration? Come on Gibbon, you can post something useful and relevant for once...

Don't try to be too intellectual, it doesn't suit you.

It's the EU that claimed they had stopped all European war since 1945, as part of their rationale for us staying in their club. This was mainly from Germany, Italy and France - hilarious since two were protagonists, and the other a silent non-participant (bar some brave Free French of course). Doubly hilarious since they missed out the Balkan war, which was fairly significant...

As for Boris's comment, I really can't be bothered to argue. It's nothing to do with love (or anything else) for Boris though.

[SueEllen]

It's not about the words. He was using a metaphor, not claiming equivalence.

In the era of sound bite media it is about the words.

[d000hg]

Well why are we worried about Ukraine? The EU has stopped all wars in Europe since 1945 or was that a lie like the EU Army? Maybe they should paint it on a Catalan riot shield?

THe EU wasn't around in the 40s so I doubt they made this claim. I forget the dates from GCSE History - we had to learn the dates the EEC, EC and EU were formed, who the members were, yada yada. Did it have an even earlier iteration? Come on Gibbon, you can post something useful and relevant for once...

[d000hg]

It's not about the words. He was using a metaphor, not claiming equivalence.

He made a comparison between the two. Sorry, it's "not about the words?!" What is it about, the dream you had explaining what he meant? Even by your standards this is a particularly stupid thing to say. Hilarious that you're accusing others of bias while telling us you know better than he did what he meant.

[vetran]

Did seem rather tactless. Bit like Boris claiming Ukraine fighting for its very survival was something Brits could empathise with because of Brexit.

Well why are we worried about Ukraine? The EU has stopped all wars in Europe since 1945 or was that a lie like the EU Army? Maybe they should paint it on a Catalan riot shield?

[malvolio]

Simile surely as he said

"instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom"

Picky picky, like a picking thing in a pick and mix....

But yes, you are correct.

[Gibbon]

It's not about the words. He was using a metaphor, not claiming equivalence.

Simile surely as he said

"instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom"

[malvolio]

I listened to one of the interviews where he first made that claim.

I then went online and replayed it to check that I hadn't misheard.

Just because you don't like certain journalists due to their political stance doesn't mean they don't sometimes report things accurately.

It's not about the words. He was using a metaphor, not claiming equivalence.

[SueEllen]

That' not actually what he said, much less meant. Various heavily biased people have seized on his words out of context to make some pathetic point or other to undermine his position.

I listened to one of the interviews where he first made that claim.

I then went online and replayed it to check that I hadn't misheard.

Just because you don't like certain journalists due to their political stance doesn't mean they don't sometimes report things accurately.

[d000hg]

That' not actually what he said, much less meant. Various heavily biased people have seized on his words out of context to make some pathetic point or other to undermine his position

Unless said biased people replaced the video I watched with a deepfake, then yes he did. He compared our respective fights for sovereignty and democracy.

[malvolio]

Did seem rather tactless. Bit like Boris claiming Ukraine fighting for its very survival was something Brits could empathise with because of Brexit.

That' not actually what he said, much less meant. Various heavily biased people have seized on his words out of context to make some pathetic point or other to undermine his position.

A bit like Partygate; mistakes were made and senior management were at fault for allowing things to happen but it doesn't warrant resignation.

A degree of proportionality seems to have gone walkies on modern politics...