Bush's frat boy antics.

[icarus]

I was reading wildernessguru the Iranian response to Bollinger of Columbia University, who introduced the Iranian president as a 'petty and cruel dictator.' Funny, the Iranians thought this was rude. It also cast American academics in a bad light.

Apparently the university president was trying to fend of pressure to cancel the event by being "tough." People in my f-list have also read articles about hints that the school's budget was threatened. It's all so small-minded. If I have this right, the Bush administration let him in, gave him the permission to speak at the university and to the press -- and then applied backroom pressure while he was here, both to 60 Minutes (the host said he spoke with president Bush before the interview) and the university. And then... didn't talk to the Iranian president in person.

That's childish. Why let him participate in these events at all?

I'm reminded of what Gary Trudeau -- who went to school with George Bush -- said. He described Bush as a frat boy who was all about the cut-downs. Bush had a derrogatory nickname for everyone. Trudeau didn't think he was stupid. Just... petty. Looks like Bush is still that nasty, self-centered frat boy.

Anyhow, WG had an interesting point about the conflict in the Middle East. He's a world traveler and backpacker. "The shame of it is, there's so much history there that we'll never get to see as Americans. I mean, we can go to Egypt. And we can go to Isreal, although if want to go to Malaysia you'll have that Isreali stamp... they might not let you in. Or you might run into trouble while you're there." I asked him about this. "Well, I talked to some Isrealis in Singapore, inviting them to come with me to Malaysia and they told me... nuh-uh. They might not make it back out."

Comments

[slashpile.livejournal.com]

What it reminded me of was that West Wing where they do *exactly* that kind of introduction at a state dinner, and treat it as a self-evidently good thing to have done.

I'm guessing you guys don't get Macleans magazine down there - here's what our national newsmag is running for this week's cover story:
http://www.macleans.ca/world/global/article.jsp?content=20071001_110054_110054

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's an excellent article, thank you.

[crazed_delusion]

This whole thing was completely improper. They kept comparing him to Hitler and saying how would treat Hitler if he was the one speaking. But the simple fact is, I don't care if your a mass murderer or have done the most unspeakable things. The simple fact is you do not treat someone like that when you have invited them there. All that achieves is proving that you are the lesser person and give that person the right to say well I was nice but they threw it in my face so I'm the better person and you should listen to me.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

I don't agree with all of Ahmenijad's policies, and certainly not his stances on gay Iranians or the Holocaust. However, when you invite a world leader to a formal event, you treat your guest with respect. You don't have to like him, you don't have to agree with him. But there is no reason to be rude to him. If you're gonna do that, don't invite him in the first place.

(I can just see someone saying something about Hitler and Chamberlain here. I hope not.)

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Argh. Isn't our PR in the Middle East poor *enough*?!

*headdesk*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Kuwait, one of our Middle East allies, has now spoken up on behalf of Iran. I hope Bush's petty enjoyment was worth the price over there.

[enname.livejournal.com]

All I want is a NZ passport. I have a British and Australian, and neither of these are particularly.. popular in some of the places I want to go. NZ however? Fine. Need a third parent to go off and be born there, not just an uncle. If wishes were fishes...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

If a Republican gets elected in the US next year, WG and I are moving to Canada. Less about the party and more about the US being hopelessly corrupt. My dad has a dual Canadian/US citizenship (from the 70s when that was easier to get) but apparently if I was going to move there as his daughter I should have done so as a teenager. (He wanted my brother and I to go to college in Toronto so we'd have the option. Oh well.)

Icarus

[dubhartach.livejournal.com]

You can't get into Syria, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Iran or Lebanon (and I thought Algeria) if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport. I don't know about all of them but no evidence of travel to Israel or "the occupied territories of Palestine" is a stated requirement for a Syrian visa.

I'm therefore planning my visit to Israel to be in the final year of my current passport.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Can't you just razor out that page...?

My dad has dual citizenship, Canadian and US. *envies him*

Icarus