Sunday, November 5, 2006
dubious i.q.
On Halloween the president of the University of Pennsylvania posed for a photograph with a student in a costume of a suicide bomber. I always thought Halloween costumes are supposed to be witty or funny. Political commentary is fine, but with wit. The whole thing is supposed to be a gigantic costume party, not an editorial. How is a suicide bomber a good costume? How about 'dressing up' as a concentration camp resident? If not, why not? I suppose a case could be made for his choice simply being in bad taste but I think it's simply over the line.
But back to Winfield Myers, said U.Penn president. In yet another example of disingenuousness by an apparently smart person who evinces a slippery relationship with honesty, and appalling low awareness of the real world, she said that she didn't notice what his costume was before she posed with him. She issued an apology but I wonder what dictionary she uses because this doesn't fit the definition in mine. What she said was
But back to Winfield Myers, said U.Penn president. In yet another example of disingenuousness by an apparently smart person who evinces a slippery relationship with honesty, and appalling low awareness of the real world, she said that she didn't notice what his costume was before she posed with him. She issued an apology but I wonder what dictionary she uses because this doesn't fit the definition in mine. What she said was
"The costume is clearly offensive and I was offended by it. As soon as I realized what his costume was, I refused to take any more pictures with him, as he requested. The student had the right to wear the costume just as I, and others, have a right to criticize his wearing of it.Excuse me???? How did President Myers get those words out with a straight face? How does she expect anyone to believe that, complete with a Ph.D. and successful candidate for the job of running an enormous and complex university structure with thousands of academics and administrators and students, she didn't notice a large gun and cannisters of explosive strapped on to someone standing next to her??? Plus, although censorship always bothers me, I'm not sure that pretending to be someone who wants to kill everyone including the people they're with is a freedom we need to guard, but maybe it is; I have to think about it.
Labels: politics
And you're so right that a simple apology would be so much better. But I have friends who don't know that, either, for some reason.
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