BFFs
Remember when the G20 was coming and we anticipated Pittsburgh’s profile would be raised internationally? Well, to quote our former president, “mission accomplished.” Who knew that our own Mayor Luke could be such a role model to the world. But that seems to be the case.
Here are two leaders just trying to move things forward in their own way. They are transitioning a government and a population out of the old ways of doing things and into the future. Plus, both have had some experience in crushing student marches and public demonstrations. And let me tell you, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad likes the cut of Luke’s jib!
Last week’s New York Times featured a blog entry on a recent interview granted to a British TV news anchor in which the Iranian president was asked about his brutal treatment of student demonstrators. Here was his reply:
Mr. Ahmadinejad suggested that the repression of dissent in his country was similar to that in the United States and Britain during protests against meetings of the G-20 in Pittsburgh and London. When asked about the “awful scenes of violence on the streets” of Iran during the crackdown on demonstrators who claimed that his election victory was a fraud, Mr. Ahmadinejad said, “the American police beat people in Pittsburgh, they arrest people and use batons and tear gas against people.”
And we think that what happens in Pittsburgh stays in Pittsburgh. But it appears that the world indeed takes notice. As I watched demonstrators in Lawrenceville, I was a bit surprised by the tanks and sonic canons employed. I was a bit surprised when the police moved against the demonstrators before they had even marched or, you know, done anything illegal. Over the loud speakers, the police announced that they were “declaring this an illegal assembly.” I remember thinking, Wait a minute. Isn’t the right to assembly what this country is supposed to be about? They aren’t hurting anyone. They aren’t breaking anything. They are exercising free speech. This seems a little bit “fascisty.” And that was before Pitt students, reporters, and girls on bikes were rounded up for playing Duck, Duck, Goose!
And now who’s acting all impressed by Pittsburgh? Congratulations, Mr. Mayor. Your leadership has caught the eye of the world and been an inspiration to others.
(h/t to Bram Reichbaum’s Pittsburgh Comet blog, where I first saw this story.)
I’m not sure worrying about what Ahmadinejad thinks or says about Pgh. is of much consequence. Consider what most ‘burghers think about him.
Had things gotten out of hand here, he would have pointed out that lawless Americans rioted in the streets and couldn’t be controlled by their weak and ineffectual leaders. Or something of that ilk.
It seemed that all the local blogs were concerned about possible damage to our hometown and were relieved that the strong police presence kept a lid on things. Although, I, personally, was incensed when somebody broke a window at Pamela’s. PAMELA’S!! Those bastards; I love their pancakes!
Of course, if there had been wholesale death, destruction and a river of blood flowing down Penn Ave., the mayor could have taken a page from A-jad’s notebook and just denied that it ever happened…..
Well, the police said the window breaker was only one guy. (An out-of-towner who didn’t realize that you don’t mess with Pamela’s!)
Plus, know that I’m not comparing the two leaders or incidents, but I think it is hilarious that Mahmoud chose to cite PGH as an example.
You never want Mengele admiring your health care system, Hitler admiring your diversity program, or Ahmadinejad citing your handling of dissent as an example.