fact of life

[Laura91]

Hi, guys!

Ok, of all the silly questions I've made here, this has to be the silliest.

I'm reading a book on politics. At a certain point, the author says: "He's [the political scientist] pointing out to the task of handling civil discord as a fact of life in the city".

Ok. I have basically two questions: 1) does "to handle" mean here "to deal with"?
2) What's exactly a fact of life?
a) Something one can't do anything about (but there are things one can do about civil discord).
b) Something which is unavoidable and in relation to which we have to adopt the right kind of attitude (there's always going to be civil discord at one point or another, but one can act in such a way as to avoid absolute caos).

Finally, I would love if you guys could comment on my paraphrase, on whether it accurately renders the meaning of the sentence: "He's pointing out to the task of handling civil discord bearing in mind [or considering] that it is a fact of life in the city".

Thanks a million, as always!
Laura

[Alan]

Hi,

Your summary tallies with the original, You may not agree with the sentiment expressed but the language stands up. 'Fact of life' here suggests a truism.

Alan
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