Syria should not belong to one family, to one coterie, or to one party. It belongs to all the people of Syria equally, in all their religious and ethnic diversity.
Interpretation
Syria should be governed by all its diverse people, not dominated by a select few.
William Hague's quote emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and equal representation in the governance of Syria. He advocates for a political system that respects and incorporates the diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds of the Syrian population, instead of allowing power to be concentrated in the hands of a single family or group. This reflects a broader message about democracy and equality within societies that have a rich tapestry of cultures and identities.
In practice
This quote can be used in discussions about political reform in Syria.
Governments that use violence to stop democratic development will not earn themselves respite forever. They will pay an increasingly high price for actions which they can no longer hide from the world with ease, and will find themselves on the wrong side of history.
When the Lord Chancellor violates the trust of his great office of state to solicit party donations from people whose careers he can control, and then says I'm not sorry, and I'd do it again no wonder the public think that power has gone to their heads.
Wouldn't it be better to have a watertight law designed to catch the guilty, rather than a press release law designed to catch the headlines?
When we have a Deputy Prime Minister who tells people not to drive cars but has two Jags himself, and where the Minister who tells people not to have two homes turns out to have nine himself - no wonder the public believe politicians are hypocrites.
All politics takes place on a slippery slope. The most important four words in politics are up to a point.
Voting is simply a way of determining which side is the stronger without putting it to the test of fighting.
Even as someone who's labeled a conservative - I'm a Republican I'm black, I'm heading up this organization in the Reagan administration - I can say that conservatives don't exactly break their necks to tell blacks that they're welcome.
Government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.
Too often, governments are quick to use excessive force and even pervert the course of justice to keep oil and gas flowing, forests logged, wild rivers dammed and minerals extracted. As the Global Witness study reveals, citizens are often killed, too - especially if they're poor and indigenous.
This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.
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