“A lattice of borders was laid over the Middle East with all the care of a blind tailor.”

I thought, at first, this was one of the most exquisitely poetic descriptions I had ever read. But then, on reflection, isn’t this metaphor fundamentally flawed? Blindness often results in greater perception in other senses — as well as a fervent quest for precision—that more than compensates:

Meet Abdallah Nyangalio, Tanzania's blind tailor who serves presidents

It’s still a compelling sentence…