The New York Times report confirms this. The standard media response (echoed by The Daily Show with John Stewart), though, seems to be that Chavez is crazy. I'm going with funny, though --at least with the devil stuff. The sulphur touch was delightful. I also agree with much of what Chavez says, both here and in other venues.Here's how Wednesdays' speech begins:
Representatives of the governments of the world, good morning to all of you. First of all, I would like to invite you, very respectfully, to those who have not read this book, to read it. Noam Chomsky, one of the most prestigious American and world intellectuals, Noam Chomsky, and this is one of his most recent books, Hegemony or Survival: The Imperialist Strategy of the United States. [Holds up book, waves it in front of General Assembly. See second photo from the left above.] It's an excellent book to help us understand what has been happening in the world throughout the 20th century, and what's happening now, and the greatest threat looming over our planet.
"The hegemonic pretensions of the American empire are placing at risk the very survival of the human species. We continue to warn you about this danger and we appeal to the people of the United States and the world to halt this threat, which is like a sword hanging over our heads. I had considered reading from this
book, but, for the sake of time," [flips through the pages, which are numerous] "I will just leave it as a recommendation."It reads easily, it is a very good book, I'm sure Madame [President] you are familiar with it. It appears in English, in Russian, in Arabic, in German. I think that the first people who should read this book are our brothers and sisters in the United States, because their threat is right in their own house.
"The devil is right at home. The devil, the devil himself, is right in the house. And the devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the devil came here. Right here." [crosses himself] "And it smells of sulfur still today. Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world. "
4 comments:
When I heard about Chavez's speech, I went immediately to commondreams.org to read the transcript. I also thought it was very funny and I appreciated it. I have heard (from Jon Stewart and others) that people think it was a stupid thing to do politically. I thought it was refreshing. I wasn't offended by it.
I was not offended by it and I am a red-neck loser. Finally we have some healthy debate. I thought it was a hoot.
He needs to send some of that cheap oil to Texas. There are millions of oil wells in W. Tx. but the last time I drove through there, it looked like only about one in fifty was pumping. ??
Today I heard that 7-11 is nmoving to drop its Citgo connection. Like L & M, I buy Citgo whenever I can. Of course he's a devil! The smell of sulphur? Maybe egg salad.
DA
The most striking thing I gto from reading the transcript of the speech was the vast difference between the polished political and other speeches I am used to and this one. It seemed very odd and stilted. I thought his comments in the TIME piece were much better worded. I don't think I would call him an orator based on thi text.
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