Greetings, Miss Manners I gladly endorse my daughter’s marriage to a nice man. However, I truly can’t stand the young woman my son is getting married to.
She nearly caused my kid to become estranged from me by spreading false and evil rumors about me. I can promise you that I do not treat him like a child, despite her insistence that I do.
My son requested me to speak at his impending wedding, which has left me in a difficult situation. I am aware that I have an obligation to speak well of them both. She is so offensive that I will find it difficult to deliver the beautiful speech I wrote up.
Given that this is the only opportunity I will have to deliver the speech, should I just do it now? Or should I look for some smart wording so I don’t come across as a total hypocrite?
Stories by
Judith Martin
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Miss Manners: Why do strangers bother me by asking my dogs’ names when we’re out for a walk?
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Miss Manners: How can we break up smaller groups, who only talk to each other, at our family holiday?
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Miss Manners: Must we be as tolerant of my brother s hate speech as we would with any other opinion ?
PERSONAL READER: It is risky to believe you are smart enough to deliver an offensive speech without getting caught, unless you are a second Oscar Wilde (and maybe even if you are).
Therefore, it might be wiser to put on your best party face and deliver your beautiful speech—after having an impartial third party check the content to make sure it won’t likely incite animosity for years to come.
Miss Manners can be reached by email at [email protected], via her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail at Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
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