Posted on 11/22/2004 11:20:31 AM PST by kfowler1
Inside Column
"A Picture's Worth..." by Ken Fowler
It's tough to describe adequately a powerful picture with pedestrian words, but there are some times when it's worth trying. One I saw Saturday night deserves the effort, as it accomplishes what only the great pieces of art do - it tells the story of something seemingly unrelated to the subject matter that is terribly important.
On the left, this photo shows Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and first lady Laura Bush smiling at reporters as they enter the ballroom in which an APEC gala dinner is about to commence. To the right, President Bush has stopped his progress, and he appears to be deciphering the reason for the commotion coming from the background.
He is stuck between going forward and turning back to resolve the problem.
In this case, his problem is that a Chilean police officer refused Bush's top on-site Secret Service agent entrance into the building. Clearly, a question of security arises when a foreign police force prevents the American president's personal security detail from escorting him into a large building.
Stuck with the options of either continuing on the path set before him - walking away from the confrontation and trusting a foreign force to maintain security and safety in what could be a dangerous situation - or going back and ending the possible security threat immediately, Bush chose the latter. Not surprised at the decision? Then picture is doing its job.
The scene that ensued was not as breathtaking as some have made it out to be. Bush reached into the pile and snapped his fingers, and the dispute was settled - the Chilean police would allow his Secret Service agent into the dinner. It took a little while for the scene to calm down, but Bush's presence was the deciding factor in how the situation would turn out.
In analyzing the sequence of events, maybe you will affectionately joke about the brazen attitude of our cowboy president and that he solves problems the way real people do.
On the other hand, the Pacers-Pistons brawl may come to mind, and you might think that the most powerful man in the world should not be meddling in the middle of a melee.
Whatever you think of the situation, the picture itself includes that story of something completely unrelated but incredibly important - a foreign leader walking ahead (to the left) as an American president, to the right, says "Hold on, I have to take care of something."
It demonstrates how tough decisions can tumult a president and a country, and it embodies the active, provocative policy of the Bush administration in foreign lands.
In a picture full of personifications, that's the overriding theme; in a world full of analogies, that's the main conflict of the day.
Here's hoping that Bush can solve the world's problems like he solved the one on Saturday.
The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
I'm just giggling a little because I've never heard Harrison Ford referred to so anonymously! :-D "The actor who plays him." :-D
No, havent' been to South American, but am headed to Brazil in December.
More macho than Mexico????
More Macho than Mexico? I'll let you be the judge. All I can say is that visiting there (once again) made me realize how fortunate I am to have America as my home. When we had our original wave of immigration(s) the hard working stayed and the lazy went back. Let me know your impression of Brazil. I love the Portuguese, but the Brazilians are of another feather.
Oh my God, he's is so friggin sexy...If i wasn't a devoted wife to a wicked handsome husband, I'd be fantasizing all over the place about him...man Laura is lucky! hmmhmmmhmmmmm
Oh my God, he's is so friggin sexy...If i wasn't a devoted wife to a wicked handsome husband, I'd be fantasizing all over the place about him...man Laura is lucky! hmmhmmmhmmmmm
I don't think it made it to the MSM. This is something that makes Bush looks good, so you know the MSM, they ignored it.
No good SOB's.
I know what you mean. On another thread, a couple of posters enhanced the audio and say that you can hear President Bush exclaim "Get your hands off him." See http://homepage.mac.com/rlmorel/iMovieTheater50.html and http://tinyurl.com/4trl5.
I quickly want to add that Laura is a wonderful woman herself, and President Bush is lucky to have her, too.
Aren't you glad we don't have to endure watching Teresa Kerry sulk and whine for 4 years?
DANG! I wish I remembered my Spanish! That's a great video, and I love the look with the tilt of the head that the President gives that man to his left after extricating the Sec. Serv. agent!
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