CG - I am trying to help you here... not hurt you. Here is what you wrote
I didn't say that someone with a degree in it would understand, but I stand by saying that someone who understands the field would understand it quite clearly.
Go back and read that again..... someone who
understands .... would
understand. DUH?!?!?! Do you ever stop and analyze your own failings and accept responsibility for what you actually wrote instead of blaming somebody else for not getting your point when it is so poorly phrased?
What you might want to do is use a different word for one of those and it would add some meaning to your point. The way you phrased it is like sombody saying
"well I knew you could not add because if you could add then you could add". Or put in any other verb that you want. The way you wrote that sentence renders it impotent of any actual meaning or import.
I could rewrite it for you but that would defeat the entire purpose of the lesson.
Again, I am trying to help you. And I do encourage you to see PLANES, TRAINS & ATUOMOBILES. It is a John Hughes movie and much of his stuff can be far too generational for my taste but this is a really good film that shows his growth beyond simply a filmaker for the Gen X crowd. Its really good. And it has a point which never hurts.
But speaking of points, you miss the point of this whole topic. 13 united states declaring its independence from a foreign nation and secession by individual rogue states against their own nation are two very different things and in the context of American History they are complete and total opposites as I have told you ... and as you have ignored.