When the noddy-winky Nations of Virtue give it a nod and a wink of course.
It happened in Honduras a couple of years ago.
It happened in Paraguay just the other day.
There's a pattern when these things "happen". Look for Hillary or one of the other front-persons for the Nations of Virtue (Hague can usually be relied on to give the winky-noddy party line, as can Cameron and Harper. Sarkozy was pretty reliable but the new guy has yet to show what he's made of.)
As long as the "democratic process" was respected we're good to go.
Nod-nod wink.
And when does Arab Spring become an ill wind?
Why, when it blows into Bahrain of course.
That's a "good" dictatorship... or should I use the weasel speak "authoritarian regime"?
Nod. Wink.
Why is it that a thousand protesters in Moscow are a popular uprising but fifty thousand protesters in Montreal are spoiled brats?
Well, because those protesters in Moscow are clamoring for democracy, and as everybody knows, those protesters in Montreal already have it...
Wink, nod...
Showing posts with label Bahrain is not Montreal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bahrain is not Montreal. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
F-1 circus moves to Montreal; can the students succeed where the Bahrain protesters failed?
Bernie's travelling road show and billion dollar circus lands in Montreal this week.
As you know, Montreal has been the ground zero of the Quebec Spring.
Here's a chance for them to get some real international publicity. Our allies in Bahrain failed in their attempt to bring international opprobrium to bear on Ecclestone's road show.
It was just another F-1 race.
Maybe Montreal can be different. Maybe the students and the workers and their sympathizers can show the world that it's not just business as usual in Montreal.
The Ecclestone circus is a prime example of everything that's gone wrong with professional sport. Time was, racing cars was about seeing who could make their car go faster.
As the sport became more and more about money, the guys who got the fastest were inevitably the guys who had the most corporate sponsorships.
More sponsorships meant more money which meant a faster car which meant more sponsorships and so the wheel went round...
And inevitably, that trip to the winner's circle meant millions in publicity dollars to the companies who's logos were on the side of the car in the winner's circle.
Which made F-1 one of the most lucrative properties in professional sport, which in turn made Bernie a billionaire.
All of which is why this weekend is a special weekend in F-1.
I'm an old school F-1 fan, and I won't be rooting for Alonzo or Hamilton or that German kid.
I'll be cheering for those Montreal kids who are busking spring into Montreal.
As you know, Montreal has been the ground zero of the Quebec Spring.
Here's a chance for them to get some real international publicity. Our allies in Bahrain failed in their attempt to bring international opprobrium to bear on Ecclestone's road show.
It was just another F-1 race.
Maybe Montreal can be different. Maybe the students and the workers and their sympathizers can show the world that it's not just business as usual in Montreal.
The Ecclestone circus is a prime example of everything that's gone wrong with professional sport. Time was, racing cars was about seeing who could make their car go faster.
As the sport became more and more about money, the guys who got the fastest were inevitably the guys who had the most corporate sponsorships.
More sponsorships meant more money which meant a faster car which meant more sponsorships and so the wheel went round...
And inevitably, that trip to the winner's circle meant millions in publicity dollars to the companies who's logos were on the side of the car in the winner's circle.
Which made F-1 one of the most lucrative properties in professional sport, which in turn made Bernie a billionaire.
All of which is why this weekend is a special weekend in F-1.
I'm an old school F-1 fan, and I won't be rooting for Alonzo or Hamilton or that German kid.
I'll be cheering for those Montreal kids who are busking spring into Montreal.
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