One of these things is not like the others. One of these things is not the same:

• Ask Alice to…
• Be drawn into…
• Call for…
• Disavow…
• Lift…
• Negotiate…
• Oversee the flow…
• Pledge…
• Press Bob to…
• Recognize…
• Represent…
• Revoke its charter.

Which one of these things is not like the others? Which one of these things is not the same?

All but one are about words and ideas. Only one is about physical action: to lift (in this case, to lift a blockade).

These are the commands from the 5 June 2010 Economist’s front-page leader. Here’s the full paragraph:

And what about Hamas, if Israel is to lift the siege of Gaza? How should Israel handle an authoritarian movement that refuses to recognise it and has in the past readily used terror? One answer is to ask the UN to oversee the flow of goods and people going in and out of Gaza. That is hardly a cure-all, but Hamas would become the world’s problem neighbour, not just Israel’s. The Arab world must do more, pressing Hamas to disavow violence, publicly pledge not to resume the firing of rockets at Israeli civilians and revoke its anti-Semitic charter. The West, led by Mr Obama, should call for Hamas to be drawn into negotiations, both with its rival Palestinians on the West Bank as well as with Israel, even if it does not immediately recognise the Jewish state. It is still the party the Palestinians elected in 2006 to represent all of them. None of this will be easy. But the present stalemate is bloodily leading nowhere.

One side is given eleven commands to speak in particular ways. The other side is given only one command to behave in a particular way. The contrast is remarkable.