Can't grasp the meaning of the sentence

[berachah]

But there was a constraint, and that was should be done that might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing communities.

This is a sentence by a person talking in a film. I can't get what he wants to say

 

[charliedeut]

I don't understand it either. Maybe some more context would help, as there seem to be some obscure references to previous text. And crediting your source would also be a good idea.

 

[5jj]

Welcome to the forum, berachah. :hi: Could the words have been: But there was a constraint,and that was that nothing should be done that might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing communities?

 

[majid87]

I am not sure if I am eligible to answer the question since I am not a native English speaker but a student.

However, my curious mind definitely wants to ask you to give us the name of the movie: perhaps we could hear and

confirm your listening of it.

 

[TheParser]

But there was a constraint, and that was that nothing should be done that might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing communities.

I can't get what he wants to say

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,

1. As 5jj implied, it is just common sense that the words "that nothing" should come after "was."

2. In that case, my reading is as follows:

There was a constraint. (= There was one thing that we had to remember.)


Whatever we decided to do, we could not harm the civil and religious rights of certain communites (groups) in the

country.



James