[lit-ideas] A conditional resignation?

[Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx]

A question of logic.
From an AP article on Aristide's letter of resignation:

"Translations of Aristide's resignation, which was written in Creole, 
also differed in wording."

"According to a U.S. Embassy translation, Aristide wrote that he 
resigned to prevent bloodshed." 

   "For that reason, tonight I am resigning 
    in order to avoid a bloodbath. I accept to leave."
    
"An independent translation of Aristide's signed statement, done at 
the request of The Associated Press, suggested the wording was 
conditional, and it does not contain the phrase "I am resigning.""

   "Se pou sa aswè a, si se demisyon m 
   ki pou evite yon ben sany, m asepte ale." 

    "For that reason, if tonight it is my resignation 
    that will avoid a bloodbath, I accept to leave."     
           
"Albert Valdman, a linguistics professor and specialist in Haitian 
Creole at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., provided AP with 
the independent translation. He said the U.S. translation "captures 
the essential meaning" of the statement but failed to bring out two 
important elements."

"They (the missing elements) reinforce on the one hand that Aristide 
states that circumstances force him to resign and, on the other hand, 
that he strongly wishes to avoid a bloodbath," said Valdman, director 
of the Creole Institute at Indiana University."

"In Washington, National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack 
maintained that Aristide resigned without being coerced. "The fact 
remains that Mr. Aristide resigned for the best interests of Haiti 
and the Haitian people, and he did so freely and of his own accord," 
he said."

"Michael Ratner, a lawyer of the Center for Constitutional Rights in 
New York City, told AP "a forced resignation is not a valid 
resignation, and when it is conditional it is even less of a 
resignation.""

Cheers,

JL

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[lit-ideas] A conditional resignation?