In a New York Times article headed, “I Have a Nightmare”, Nicholas D. Kristof lamented the “death of environmentalism” in America. It has passed on, he suggests, because it’s now “empty of nuance”.

Nuance? Do we need it? Hasn’t it all but disappeared from modern culture? Wouldn’t “red in tooth and claw” be a better way to get noticed? Isn’t nuance the last resort of the terminally confused?

On the contrary, I believe the nuance factor defines our writing and thinking much more than how we handle the big slab issues. In many ways it’s the essence of crafted writing, which, at its best, reflects a well-stocked mind and a subtle, receptive soul. Nuance is the backbone of every powerful statement.The art of creative authorship lies in how we deal with nuances and how we make them interesting. Shades of meaning and complexity show that we can appreciate points of view other than our own.

The great writers manage to make complexity simple. They keep the thread moving on while allowing the loom of their creativity to weave a tapestry along its flanks. Nuance is often the missing link between the truth and political statements.