babble
Friday, October 04, 2002
Have you noticed that almost all U.S. government officials, including our dubiously elected president, refer to Saddam Hussein as "Saddam"? Tony Blair does it too, and so do some of the media. I find this interesting. I don't think that any other so-called enemy of the U.S., no matter how despised, has been referred to in such a casual, familiar manner. You don't hear "President" Bush referring to Kim Jong-il, the leader of "axis of evil" nation North Korea, as "Jong-il". (By the way, that's his given name; in many Asian nations, the surname is said first. For geek reference, this is also done on Bajor.) Nobody ever called President Marcos of the Philippines "Ferdinand" when he was in the midst of being overthrown. Hell, they didn't even refer to Osama bin Laden by his first name, and he was the most talked about enemy of the Bush administration for quite a while. Actually, I think he was referred to as "Osama" in the media, but that was mostly by laypeople that were being interviewed for "man on the street" opinions.
So, what does this all mean? Is it a deliberately calculated way of showing how little respect they have for him? Has the Bush family just been talking about the guy so much over the last 11 or so years that they've slipped into a familiar manner of speaking about him? Maybe they're all really good friends, on a first-name basis, and are just making up all this war talk so they can drum up oil prices and have funny stories to tell the grandkids. "Saddam III, let grandpa tell you about that time Uncle George made everyone think he was going to blow me up! They all bought it too! What a hoot!"
You never know.
No celebrity sightings this week. I can tell you about a celebrity sighting from several months ago, though. I saw Tommy Lee and his girlfriend at a gallery opening in Los Feliz. We had been there for a while already, and when he walked in, a friend of ours said "Well, you know it's time to go home when Tommy Lee shows up!" I don't think Tommy thought it was funny, though.
Brewery Artwalk information: Saturday and Sunday, October 12-13, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Driving directions on the Brewery site, and you can see a map of the property here. Our space will be open both days. She's showing paintings and I'm showing photographs and maybe a painting or two if I get brave.
babbled by Kat @ 4:13:00 PM |
|
