posted 26 March 2003 04:01 AM
I'm not a big fan, but this disheartens me (and I never realized this):
quote:When Kissinger was President Nixon's national security adviser, White House aides permitted pictures at his press conferences, but no sound. They were afraid that Kissinger's heavy accent would offend Middle America.
posted 26 March 2003 04:07 AM
Why be disheartened? The man is almost single-handedly responsible for extending the Vietnam War four more years, which meant that he is single-handedly responsible for the deaths of thousands of American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese, and very likely aided in exacerbating the inflationary spasms that hit the United States in the 1970s.
I have no pity for the man. I also find it hugely ironic that such an open exponent of the realpolitik school of American diplomatic thought should have been carefully exposed to the American public in a way that would ensure that nobody thought him to be slightly non-American.
From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001
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clockwork
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 690
posted 26 March 2003 04:16 AM
But that is the point: you can dislike a person, even vehemently so, but my bleeding liberal heart feels bad when a person is subjected to ridicule because of his accent.
I never even thought anything of his accent. I just found it odd that political handlers thought enough of it to suppress his accent.
But then, I admit, I walk a fine line here. I misunderestimate Bush on vebal grounds as well.
From: Pokaroo! | Registered: May 2001
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lagatta
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2534
posted 26 March 2003 09:35 AM
No, it isn't the same thing, because Bush - a native speaker of English, and a rich man's son - is mocked for his ignorant misuse of the language.
"Stupid" is not among the common stereotypes about German Jews. It is ironic that someone who did so much to impose US imperial might would not be seen as fully American. Hardly the first time this has occurred in history.
Of course, one can mock one's own (or one's parents) linguistic foibles - Vy a duck?
From: Se non ora, quando? | Registered: Apr 2002
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