Condoleezza Rice and the President's Piss
Although the United States of America has stood as the symbol of democracy in this ever-changing world scene, true to say that the American communications media have always “cooperated” with the respective Administrations and purposely omitted news from TV screens and printed press across the 50 States of the nation.
Thus, some images of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina have not been shown alleging that the atrocity of a dog biting off a chunk of a corpse floating in stagnant waters in a city street were not exactly adequate for the general public that were watching the newscasts.
In similar manner, Americans have been deprived of all images and reports that could make their patriotism waver, wherein their troops (in reality young Americans whose families seat at home uncertain about their safety) run high risks of falling into ambush traps in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Back in 2001, Europeans and Asians probably saw first the tragic scenes at the Twin Towers and were better informed about the situation than their American counterparts. Now, those scenes and tapes have been released as they prove to be excellent marketing material to “sales-talk” wavering Americans back into the Administration’s line of patriotism, supposedly against the nation’s enemies.
To our surprise, watching TV news in Spain, we found ourselves viewing a rather funny photo that nevertheless had a bitter-sour connotation, not only for the man appearing in it but also for the rest of the world.
The photo shows a handwritten note that read – “ . . . I may have to go to the bathroom …. May I ? ” and it was on President’s Bush General Assembly desk. As a matter of fact, it seems that he had written the note and pushed it for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to read. We imagine the President was asking his subordinate for permission to piss.
We have wondered if the photo was held from American press, as other “improper” news in the past.
One can’t avoid of thinking how silly such a situation can be and that President Bush is only human with human needs such as pissing. We know how bad it can be to be in such a forum as the General Assembly and have such a physiological “urgency”.
What is real relevant about the whole incident is the thought of the evident weaknesses of such an over-powerful President whose decisions indeed affect all of us, directly or indirectly.
True to say that President Bush has always been considered in Europe as a rather “basic” President, probably with a lack of “working” knowledge about other countries and cultures. Nevertheless, as duly elected (and then re-elected) President of the United States of America, he has received the highest protocol honors during his State visits. What has been inevitable, are the casual cartoons about his involuntary “blunders” during such visits. In Europe, fortunately we still enjoy of a rather independent free press.
The incident at the U. N. General Assembly is indeed unfortunate in as much as it again puts poor President Bush in a spot. Not that he hasn’t been on the limelight quite a bit lately, with so much said about Iraq and then hurricane Katrina. However, as objective observers of the foreign policy of the United States of America, our hair stands on edge to think that such policies are more in the hands of a Condoleezza Rice rather than a pool of White House expert advisors on international affairs.
If the President has to get her permission to piss, what next ? We wonder . . .
Thus, some images of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina have not been shown alleging that the atrocity of a dog biting off a chunk of a corpse floating in stagnant waters in a city street were not exactly adequate for the general public that were watching the newscasts.
In similar manner, Americans have been deprived of all images and reports that could make their patriotism waver, wherein their troops (in reality young Americans whose families seat at home uncertain about their safety) run high risks of falling into ambush traps in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Back in 2001, Europeans and Asians probably saw first the tragic scenes at the Twin Towers and were better informed about the situation than their American counterparts. Now, those scenes and tapes have been released as they prove to be excellent marketing material to “sales-talk” wavering Americans back into the Administration’s line of patriotism, supposedly against the nation’s enemies.
To our surprise, watching TV news in Spain, we found ourselves viewing a rather funny photo that nevertheless had a bitter-sour connotation, not only for the man appearing in it but also for the rest of the world.
The photo shows a handwritten note that read – “ . . . I may have to go to the bathroom …. May I ? ” and it was on President’s Bush General Assembly desk. As a matter of fact, it seems that he had written the note and pushed it for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to read. We imagine the President was asking his subordinate for permission to piss.
We have wondered if the photo was held from American press, as other “improper” news in the past.
One can’t avoid of thinking how silly such a situation can be and that President Bush is only human with human needs such as pissing. We know how bad it can be to be in such a forum as the General Assembly and have such a physiological “urgency”.
What is real relevant about the whole incident is the thought of the evident weaknesses of such an over-powerful President whose decisions indeed affect all of us, directly or indirectly.
True to say that President Bush has always been considered in Europe as a rather “basic” President, probably with a lack of “working” knowledge about other countries and cultures. Nevertheless, as duly elected (and then re-elected) President of the United States of America, he has received the highest protocol honors during his State visits. What has been inevitable, are the casual cartoons about his involuntary “blunders” during such visits. In Europe, fortunately we still enjoy of a rather independent free press.
The incident at the U. N. General Assembly is indeed unfortunate in as much as it again puts poor President Bush in a spot. Not that he hasn’t been on the limelight quite a bit lately, with so much said about Iraq and then hurricane Katrina. However, as objective observers of the foreign policy of the United States of America, our hair stands on edge to think that such policies are more in the hands of a Condoleezza Rice rather than a pool of White House expert advisors on international affairs.
If the President has to get her permission to piss, what next ? We wonder . . .
posted by Fernando FusterFabra Fernández @ 7:50 AM
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