The blog of Ahmadinejad
…that Mahmood Ahmadinejad has a blog? And that every post is faithfully translated into English (and French)?
It’s so strange - I want to like the guy for some reason. Before his election, I really did like him. I don’t disagree with his feelings on the US necessarily, but denying the Holocaust took it a little too far (I’m sorry - you can hate Israel and that’s fine by me, but the Holocaust happened, and denying it is simply pardoning the Germans).
What impressed me the most is all of the kind comments from Americans though. I admit that, despite being an American, being raised by enlightened parents, and hanging with educated circles, I still view many of my fellow countrymen and women as hopelessly ignorant. I tell people I’m from the Northeast as if it were a different country. And yet, look at ‘em posting on the blog of the Iranian president! If only my own president had the desire to communicate with and listen to his people.
Now, can anyone enlighten me - how well does Ahmadinejad speak (or read, rather) English? Do you think he reads his blog comments?
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I doubt that his English goes much beyond “down with the USA”… Funny that you say that you really liked him - my mother, who’s European, liked him on account of his funny looks, and especially his Monty-style jacket… Her views on him have however hardened since his forays into contemporary German history…
His election mirrors in some ways that of Bush, a folksy and non-intellectual leader much maligned by the élite, who goes on to win thanks to popular support…
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:29 pm
There really ought to be a requirement for presidents (in any country, especially the United States) to speak at least two languages fluently. Bush probably speaks the fewest of all.
And I agree with your mother - It’s the Holocaust denial that got me.
July 24th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Doesn’t Bush speak Spanish? But then I suppose you could argue whether he speaks English at all…
July 24th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
No, Bush absolutely does not speak Spanish. That was a lie. He might know some words, as most Texans do, being so close to the Mexican border, but he is not fluent, or at least has never proven that he is.
July 25th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Yes of course .but let’ s remind as well that Israel offers as a daily holocaust. Why does Palestinians have to pay the price? If it is this the price, I will rather deny this supposed holocaust. By the way ,it is not the one and lonely holocaust. Many others had faced worst than Jews holocaust. But no one speaks about. So why every body does speaks about Jews holocaust? I think it’s only a mean to justify Israel’s crimes . That is not expectable. I got enough about movies and pics showing nude dead bodies, or those of Auschwitz. I m fed up. Enough is enough.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:10 am
I don’t disagree, 5Estrellas (by the way, welcome to the blog). I don’t believe that Palestinians should have to pay the price either. I am simply reminding what many often forget - that in 1948, Jews were in a desperate situation. That does not by any means excuse the actions of Israel or the United States (or many other countries/people).
Interesting that you should mention pictures of Auschwitz. I was in Munich last year (where Dachau is located, of course) and ran into some American Jews in a bar who were discussing their visit to Dachau with me, some Aussies I was with, and a German guy we had met. The German guy got very angry (mind you, he’d been drinking) and started yelling about how wrong Holocaust tourism is, and how we should simply forget history.
Just an anecdote, I don’t have a moral for that story.
July 25th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I can remember the holocaust, but in the same degree of witch I would remember any other human tragedy. I can’t bear the burden of the crimes that others have perpetrated. I guess I am more concerned by other genocides, like the Amerindian one or the tragedy of Africans. Those who had been expatriated and made slaves. Unfortunately we don’t hear much about. There’s no doubt that who isn’t rich could be murdered inaudibly and the murderer won’t be disturbed. Meanwhile others will continue their crimes peacefully as they own a means to make us feel forever guilty!
I love my Jewish neighbor but I can’t support Zionist movement only because some Jewss has probably been gazed somewhere in Europe. It s out of topic but I had to say it!