Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

beta · Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

"Therefore, as much as we condemn it strongly, we must stay above this dispute, and not bring ourselves to equaling ourselves to those publishing the cartoons," he said.

Is "stay above a phrase"?
Why equaling is in the ing form?

Regards
mike

Nef · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 187 Location: California, USA

"Therefore, as much as we condemn it strongly, we must stay above this dispute, and not bring ourselves to equaling ourselves to those publishing the cartoons," he said.

Is "stay above a phrase"?

Yes. It means choosing not to participate in a dispute (argument) that seems unworthy in some way; to refrain from being part of such a dispute.

Why equaling is in the ing form?

I'm not sure why it is written this way. Sometimes the expression "down to the level of" is used. People don't want to bring themselves "down to the level of" (don't want to behave like) those whose actions they dislike.