Sherry Chandler » The Grammar of Responsibility
The Grammar of Responsibility
As a poet, I like to think I am sensitive to every least nuance of language.
I was, therefore, a bit amused and bemused by Mr. Cheney’s statement of responsibility, as quoted in the NYTimes:
“Ultimately, I’m the guy who pulled the trigger that fired the round that hit Harry.”
Ultimately, I find this statement considerably different from this one: “I shot Harry.”
This “I’m the guy who pulled the trigger…” statement is the one the NYTimes is highlighting. A little later on in the article they quote Cheney thus:
“I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend.”
This one is getting a little closer and gives the notion that it’s intention that the man is trying to avoid. I guess I can give him that. “I shot Harry,” could be construed as “I meant to shoot Harry.” “I’m the guy who pulled the trigger” has more of a feel of “and Harry just happened to get shot.”
I was also amused at this:
Katharine Armstrong, whose family owns the ranch, had said in interviews that Dr Pepper was served at lunch.
Dr. Pepper, the drink of Vice Presidents. Good advertising?
A little friendlier in the Washington Post? But a little more coherent, too.
“Ultimately, I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and fired the round that hit Harry,” Cheney said in a hastily arranged White House interview with Fox News Channel anchor Brit Hume. “And you can talk about all of the other conditions that existed at the time, but that’s the bottom line. And there’s no — it was not Harry’s fault. You can’t blame anybody else. I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend. And I say that is something I’ll never forget.”
Possibly related posts:
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Leave a comment