Try the test of opposites. It’s a tool for writers, but it can be useful for politicians. Victoria city council might have found it helpful last week.
If you aren’t sure whether to use a particular adjective or adverb in a sentence, replace it with its opposite. If the resulting sentence is ridiculous or meaningless, your original adjective is probably unnecessary or foolish.
For instance, if you are tempted to write of a “brutal war,” try the test of opposites and write of a “gentle war.” It reminds you that all war is brutal, so you can safely ditch the adjective.
Last week, Coun. Ben Isitt prevailed upon his fellow councillors to pass a resolution making it clear that the city’s support of the Invictus Games for injured and ill veterans did not imply that Victoria supports war.
It read: “That council places itself on record expressing the opinion that the most effective way of honouring people injured in armed conflict is to pursue non-violent solutions to conflict in local communities and worldwide.”
Try to imagine the current Victoria council endorsing this resolution: “That council places itself on record expressing the opinion that the most effective way of honouring people injured in armed conflict is to pursue violent solutions to conflict in local communities and worldwide.”
There was a time when city councils might have passed such a bloodthirsty resolution. In time of war, a jingoistic council might even do so again.
No one, however, would accuse the current councillors of being warmongers. So they should not waste their time stating the obvious.
