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Jackson6612 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Tony Blair says riots not symptom of moral decline
Hi
Please help me to fully understand the following news article. Thanks a lot for your help and time. My comments are in blue and questions in red.
Tony Blair says riots not symptom of moral decline
LONDON — Former Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday rejected the British government’s claim that this month’s riots were caused by the country’s moral decline, and said talk of “broken Britain” (what does "broken" mean here? Does it mean 'inform' or 'reduced in rank'?) would unfairly tarnish the nation’s reputation.
Prime Minister David Cameron has blamed Britain’s “slow-motion moral collapse” (happening slowly) for the riots which raged (prevailed, happened) for four nights in London and other English cities.
Blair wrote in The Observer newspaper that the violence was not caused by social rot (deterioration, decay), but by “alienated, disaffected youth,” (youth which has become unfriendly and rebellious as a result of resentment etc.) who are found in most developed nations.
“The key is to understand that they aren’t symptomatic of society at large,” (being a symptom of a disease, having the characteristics of a particular disease) Blair wrote, adding that “Britain as a whole is not in the grip (a strong or tenacious grasp) of some general ‘moral decline.’
“The truth is that many of these people are from families that are profoundly dysfunctional (greatly out of properly working condition), operating on completely different terms from the rest of society, either middle class or poor.” (Don't you think that saying that "middle class" families are dysfunctional a little improper? Because even the term 'middle class' contains different stratums of society such as 'upper middle class' etc. Perhaps, saying 'lower middle class' is more apt.)
He said the only way to start finding a proper solution was to focus on the specific problem.
“Elevate this into a high falutin’ wail (pompous or pretentious lamentation) about a Britain that has lost its way (condition, state) morally and we will depress ourselves unnecessarily, trash (trash, vandalize) our own reputation abroad, and worst of all, miss the chance to deal with the problem in the only way that will work.”
Blair left office in 2007 and rarely comments on domestic politics.
The riots, triggered by a fatal police shooting in north London’s Tottenham area on Aug. 4, were the worst civil disturbances to hit Britain since the 1980s, and left a trail of looted stores, torched cars and burned-out (I would have used 'burned' and not "burned-out". What's the difference?) buildings in many areas. Five people died in the violence, including three men run down by a car as they protected stores from looters in England’s second city, Birmingham.
As politicians debate the causes of the mayhem (needless and willful violence), British authorities have promised harsh punishment for the rioters.
Police in London said Sunday that they have recorded almost 3,300 separate offences connected to the riots, including 1,100 burglaries and 400 cases of criminal damage (A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.).
More than 1,300 people have been charged nationwide.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1042708--tony-blair-says-riots-not-symptom-of-moral-decline?bn=1
Please help me to fully understand the following news article. Thanks a lot for your help and time. My comments are in blue and questions in red.
Tony Blair says riots not symptom of moral decline
LONDON — Former Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday rejected the British government’s claim that this month’s riots were caused by the country’s moral decline, and said talk of “broken Britain” (what does "broken" mean here? Does it mean 'inform' or 'reduced in rank'?) would unfairly tarnish the nation’s reputation.
Prime Minister David Cameron has blamed Britain’s “slow-motion moral collapse” (happening slowly) for the riots which raged (prevailed, happened) for four nights in London and other English cities.
Blair wrote in The Observer newspaper that the violence was not caused by social rot (deterioration, decay), but by “alienated, disaffected youth,” (youth which has become unfriendly and rebellious as a result of resentment etc.) who are found in most developed nations.
“The key is to understand that they aren’t symptomatic of society at large,” (being a symptom of a disease, having the characteristics of a particular disease) Blair wrote, adding that “Britain as a whole is not in the grip (a strong or tenacious grasp) of some general ‘moral decline.’
“The truth is that many of these people are from families that are profoundly dysfunctional (greatly out of properly working condition), operating on completely different terms from the rest of society, either middle class or poor.” (Don't you think that saying that "middle class" families are dysfunctional a little improper? Because even the term 'middle class' contains different stratums of society such as 'upper middle class' etc. Perhaps, saying 'lower middle class' is more apt.)
He said the only way to start finding a proper solution was to focus on the specific problem.
“Elevate this into a high falutin’ wail (pompous or pretentious lamentation) about a Britain that has lost its way (condition, state) morally and we will depress ourselves unnecessarily, trash (trash, vandalize) our own reputation abroad, and worst of all, miss the chance to deal with the problem in the only way that will work.”
Blair left office in 2007 and rarely comments on domestic politics.
The riots, triggered by a fatal police shooting in north London’s Tottenham area on Aug. 4, were the worst civil disturbances to hit Britain since the 1980s, and left a trail of looted stores, torched cars and burned-out (I would have used 'burned' and not "burned-out". What's the difference?) buildings in many areas. Five people died in the violence, including three men run down by a car as they protected stores from looters in England’s second city, Birmingham.
As politicians debate the causes of the mayhem (needless and willful violence), British authorities have promised harsh punishment for the rioters.
Police in London said Sunday that they have recorded almost 3,300 separate offences connected to the riots, including 1,100 burglaries and 400 cases of criminal damage (A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.).
More than 1,300 people have been charged nationwide.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1042708--tony-blair-says-riots-not-symptom-of-moral-decline?bn=1
Top answer
Dear Jackson6612, To answer your questions (in red): (what does "broken" mean here? ) No. Here, broken means not working properly - that Britain is malfunctioning .
- Dear Jackson6612, To answer your questions (in red): (what does "broken" mean here?
- ) No.
- Here, broken means not working properly - that Britain is malfunctioning .
- Don't you think that saying that "middle class" families are dysfunctional a little improper?
- Because even the term 'middle class' contains different stratums of society such as 'upper middle class' etc.
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2 Answers
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Dear Jackson6612,
To answer your questions (in red):
(what does "broken" mean here? Does it mean 'inform' or 'reduced in rank'?) No. Here, broken means not working properly - that Britain is malfunctioning.
Don't you think that saying that "middle class" families are dysf
To answer your questions (in red):
(what does "broken" mean here? Does it mean 'inform' or 'reduced in rank'?) No. Here, broken means not working properly - that Britain is malfunctioning.
Don't you think that saying that "middle class" families are dysf
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Thank you very much, John. It was very kind of you.
Jackson6612,But, some things are so ingrained that..Yes, you are right that some things are just so ingrained that... Even Cameron was laying so much emphasis on the word "poor" as if being poor or middle class means that you are going to loot others or more prone to criminal activities. It's just th
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