No offense . . . ”

“Fact is . . . ”

“I’m sorry to say . . . ”

“If I didn’t know better . . . ”

Do you spot what these have in common? They are all clichés that mean the opposite of what they say.

Translations:

“Prepare to be offended . . . ”

“I’m about to state an opinion . . . ”

“I’m probably not sorry . . . ”

“I do know better and I’m about to tell you why . . . ”

Which brings me to another layer to these clichés: The implied insult.

When someone starts a sentence with “To be honest,” you know nothing good is coming. Translation: I’m about to disparage something you probably care about but I’m being “honest” so it’s OK.

Another one: “That said . . . ”, i.e., I’ll deign to acknowledge that you have a point of view . . . but it’s wrong.

I stand guilty as charged. In fact (another one!), “That said” is a cliché I often use. The truth of the matter is (and another one! I’m about to make an observation) clichés and idioms exist for a reason. They’re often spot on!

• • •

A school principal in the West Bank doesn’t seem to have the same moral quandary that is the plot of a great French comedy, “Le Prénom.” The story centers around a heated conversation when an expecting couple announce the name they’ve chosen for their future child. Only a few truly verboten names exist, so you won’t be shocked to hear they’ve chosen Adolphe.

Question is, when future principal Hitler Faik Abu Hamed’s parents named him, did a similar debate break out over the dinner table? How about little baby Eichmann, whose name was chosen “to anger Zionism,” according to the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida?

The principal of a school in Hebron, Hitler (Faik Abu Hamed) is in a position of influence, and by continuing to use his first name, he sends a positive message to his staff and pupils about a genocidal leader.

Then again, in his circles, perhaps Hitler is not evil but rather “daring,” according to one Fatah party official, or even G-d’s messenger to counter the evil Jews, in the words of a preacher as broadcast on PA TV.

I cannot imagine naming my child after someone who caused horrific destruction no matter how much I may be opposed to one of the groups he targeted. Then again, I also can’t imagine hating an entire ethnic group, no matter how much I oppose some of its members’ ideology.

Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com

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