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Bush's Devil Hand Symbol Shocks European Viewers
Houston Chronicle ^ | 1/21/05 | Associated Press

Posted on 01/24/2005 3:11:14 AM PST by M 91 u2 K

'Hook 'em, 'horns' gesture lost in translation Associated Press

OSLO, Norway — President Bush's "Hook 'em, 'horns" salute got lost in translation in Norway, where shocked people interpreted his hand gesture during his inauguration as a salute to Satan.

That's what it means in the Nordics when you throw up the right hand with the index and pinky fingers raised, a gesture popular among heavy metal groups and their fans in the region.

"Shock greeting from Bush daughter," a headline in the Norwegian Internet newspaper Nettavisen said above a photograph of Bush's daughter Jenna, smiling and showing the sign.

For Texans, the gesture is a sign of love for the University of Texas Longhorns, whose fans are known to shout out "Hook 'em, 'horns!" at sporting events.

Bush, a former Texas governor, and his family made the sign to greet the Longhorn marching band as it passed during the inaugural parade through Washington during Thursday's festivities, Norway's largest newspaper, Verdens Gang, explained to its readers.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; devil; europe; eurotrash; euroweenies; hookemhorns; inauguration; satan; w2
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To: M 91 u2 K

GW, and Jenna a little overdressed for an Ozzy show, donchathink ?


81 posted on 01/24/2005 7:13:49 AM PST by hobbes1 (Hobbes1TheOmniscient® "I know everything so you don't have to" ;)
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To: floridarolf
In 50 years, when this handsign isn't associated with the Texas Longhorns anymore, urban legends and conspiracy theories will florish around these pictures.

Actually... they already do in those Illuminati Conspiracy-theory circles.

It'd be funny stuff if people didn't actually believe it.

82 posted on 01/24/2005 7:18:05 AM PST by MWS
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To: M 91 u2 K

83 posted on 01/24/2005 7:20:35 AM PST by itsamelman (“Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh.” -- Al Swearengen)
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To: M 91 u2 K

See.... I always knew them tea-sippers was a bunch of satanists.... ;-)


84 posted on 01/24/2005 7:27:20 AM PST by tarawa
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To: MortMan
In a 'few' countries it's not the sign of the devil. It suggests a woman who likes getting poked in both holes simultaneously. I have to watch what I say here about this.

It is so unconventional even there that it's an insult. But everybody knows what it is just by suggestion.

85 posted on 01/24/2005 7:29:48 AM PST by BobS
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To: Still in Denial

Ronnie James Dio, arguably the greatest lead singer in the history of heavy metal, brought that hand gesture into heavy metal a long time ago. He stole it from his grandmother who said it was all about how you pointed it, fingers down pointing at someone it's to assist the evil eye, finger up like hw W is doing it is protection from evil. Of course in metal circles all it means is "Dio rocks". Then Britney Spears started throwing it and now it's just another wave.


86 posted on 01/24/2005 7:33:47 AM PST by discostu (mime is money)
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To: teezle
Haha! It's one little newspaper in Norway and you guys are chit-chatting (?) about it for hours.

"chit chatting" is what we are supposed to be doing here. You are here for... free bagels?

APf

87 posted on 01/24/2005 8:02:36 AM PST by APFel (The left are to people as wolves are to sheep.)
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To: Larry Lucido

LOL! I had a feeling that was what you were going to post.


88 posted on 01/24/2005 8:18:00 AM PST by MotleyGirl70
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To: APFel
You are here for... free bagels?

No thanks, just had breakfast. My point is, some internet newspaper makes a silly headline and you guys have your opinion about the entire European press ready. Just keep the things in perspective is what I'm saying. :-)

Ah what the heck, pass me one of them bagels.
89 posted on 01/25/2005 1:50:38 AM PST by teezle
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To: teezle
My point is, some internet newspaper makes a silly headline and you guys have your opinion about the entire European press ready.

The opinion wasn't formed in a vacuum, my friend. The British press (outside of the Scotsman) has been particularly brutal to us for quite a while. And while it would be easy to write off a headline that makes a "silly" assertion, it seems to want to speak for all of Europe (or at least persuade the European reader with bandwagon-style propaganda... IE Europeans see the hand sign as some sort of "devil tribute", you should see that, too).

So while this thread may seem like "another day, another American outrage at the Europeans", we have to take this kind of stuff seriously for a number of reasons.

APf

90 posted on 01/25/2005 7:36:50 AM PST by APFel (The left are to people as wolves are to sheep.)
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To: APFel
So while this thread may seem like "another day, another American outrage at the Europeans", we have to take this kind of stuff seriously for a number of reasons.

Perhaps a little too serious? :-)

PS: May I ask you a question? Next summer I want to travel through the USA and I am going to buy a car in California. A friend of mine is saying that I only need the Title of the car, and since I will not be living in the USA, I do not have to register the car in any of the States I travel trough. Is this really true? Who's licence plates am I going to use than?
Off-topic... I know... sorry...
91 posted on 01/26/2005 2:54:15 AM PST by teezle
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