In the interests of diplomacy --- I doubt diplomats have the luxury of causing offence and avoid it at all costs. However, there are times in everyone's life when one after considerable forethought, has to stand on principle and say what needs to be said. The result will depend not so much on what was said, but how it was said. In other words, being assertive as opposed to aggressive will better serve their purpose.

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com