Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

The confluence of many disparate grievances avowing general slogans is not yet a democratic outcome. With victory comes the need to distill a democratic evolution and to establish a new locus of authority. The more sweeping the destruction of the existing order, the more difficult the establishment of domestic authority is likely to prove, and the more likely is the resort to force to impose a universal ideology. And the more fragmented the society grows, the greater the temptation to foster unity by appeals to a vision of a merged nationalism and Islamism targeting Western values or social goals.
The overthrow of the existing structure is an admission ticket to a searing process. We must take care lest, in an era of shortened attention spans, revolutions turn, for the outside world, into a transitory Internet' experience - watched intently for a few key moments, then tuned out once the main event is deemed to be done. The revolution will have to be judged by its destination, not its origin; its outcome, not its proclamations.

[Questions]

1) Could you please rephrase the word "distill" into something easier for non-natives to understand?

2) Could you explain what "shortened attention spans" means here?

You can answer either of these questions. Thank you.

(source: http://www.henryakissinger.com/articles/iht040212.html)

[IanT]

1) Distill is his attempt to suggest a long, slow, careful process. The word is normally used for making drinks like whisky.

Any word would do. Make, produce, ensure, create...

2) "an era of shortened attention spans" mean that now no one can concentrate for more than a few seconds He is trying to say that the world should pay attention to revolutions for a long time, to see what happens in the end.

Hope helps,
Ian
_________________
All my answers refer to British English.

www.EnglishSwearing.com - How to use all the bad words! ... and ... www.throdworld.com - Silly verses to make you happy.

You decide the price for both!

[syoshioka99]

Thank you Ian! It's getting clearer.