> Vague statements and poorly clarified declarations have the power to inspire.

Not to belabor the issue, but most (all?) inspiring declarations I've heard have been very clear, or at least they were on the surface. They draw from familiar imagery and pack an connotational wallop for good measure. Poorly clarified statements provide little meat to chew on, and little incentive to do so.

I also take issue with vague statements encouraging independent thought. I believe controversial concrete statements are better at that. People don't need vague statements to make them think; if anything imprecise statements do the opposite: since they don't need to clearly state what they mean, they don't need to think.

Consider this:

• Under certain circumstances it may be in a state's best interest to engage in the elimination of undesirable elements in other states, utilizing whatever viable means are available, particularly by violation of the host state's sovereignty through superior force.
• Sometimes invading other countries to kill our enemies is a good idea.

Clarity and independence of mind are not the same thing.