Today’s word is “whataboutism” ... hwuht-uh-bou-tiz-uhm ... a conversational tactic in which a person responds to an argument or attack by changing the subject to focus on someone else’s misconduct, implying that all criticism is invalid because no one is completely blameless: Excusing your mistakes with whataboutism is not the same as defending your record. (Dictionary.com)
OK
“Would that we could,” said she,
“Have a conversation.”
That sounded good to him ... odd,
but a step in the right direction.
And things were calm at first,
each stating their positions.
One would make a query,
whataboutism spiked, the reply.
Soon, accusations flew (and loud)
‘til they could hear nothing
but their own voices quivering.
Seeing eye to eye was not
about to happen in this lifetime.
They huffed away in opposite directions,
opinions firmly settling like footprints in wet cement.
Both looking for someone to agree with,
someone who would smile and nod,
and not offend with questions.
Anne Selleck
Copyright 2019
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