Again Cultural Insensitivity Marks US Efforts To Reach Out!

[DistressedAmerican]

Time and time again this administration's policies since 9/11 reflect a basic understanding of the cultures we are dealing with. Here is yet another example. This administration really IS run be ethnocentric, cowboy bullies. I'm surprised they haven't had an airdrop of cigarettes and Big Macs to the Iraqi people!

We talk about Iraqis as if they were some homogeneous whole. You will be hearing a lot about the number of Iraqis turning out to vote in the coming days and how it is an overwhelming show of support for our policies in the country. Remember what you will be hearing about are Shiites and Kurds turning out to vote in large numbers. The Sunnis will be at home. Do not be fooled when Bush tells you it was because they were intimidated. Hey want no part in lending legitimacy to the rule of their Shi'ite rivals.

This election will be a huge PR excises that does little more than set the stage for Bush claiming another victory for democracy while the war will continue unabated or more likely intensify. Some basic cultural understanding suggests that this election is a farce.

BTW, This doesn't sound like Biden's finest moment either. He usually does better...


http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/01/29/davos.iran.reut/index.html
-snip-

Meal whets appetite for Iran clash

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) -- A World Economic Forum dinner designed to promote dialogue between Iran and the United States began with a comic strip series of diplomatic and gastronomic blunders, and ended with a sharp exchange over nuclear weapons.

With Iran's vice-president and foreign minister in the room, the organizers of the dinner on Friday night began by announcing they had disinvited Swiss cartoonist Patrick Chappatte, one of the listed panelists, because the issues were too serious.

The star guest, U.S. Senator Joe Biden, ranking Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, was missing. The organizers kept saying he was on his way.

Moderator David Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist, apologised for the fact that wine had been served, upsetting the Muslim guests. Waiters cleared the offending glasses.

They also removed the menus since the hotel had planned to serve non-hallal meat, breaching Islamic dietary rules. Even the soup spoons were withdrawn -- erroneously, it transpired.
-end snip-

[rodeodance]

1. should be give and take on BOTH sides!!

[DistressedAmerican]

2. Would be nice but, look we are the "big superpower"

We export our culture to them by the plane, train and boatload. To them, this is the mother of all culture wars. One of the main things they resent is the imposition of our cultural values on them. What do you want? Maybe they should bring some hotdogs for the cookout?

If we are trying to reach any sort of negotiated deal with these folks at the minimum diplomatic courtesy would demand better.

Yeah, a bit from their side might be encouraging but, do want to let this thing roll right along into "Bush II: The Revenge" because we were waiting for their gesture? OR Do we try to find a diplomatic solution to this "crisis"? If we want to find a diplomatic solution we will have to start by not offending them over what's for dinner.

We are supposed to be such a pluralistic society. We should start acting like it.