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It all ends with a T-shirt - Chavez & the King of Spain hug & make up.

iosaf | 25.07.2008 14:50 | Analysis | Culture | History | World

The Spanish speaking world gave the English speaking world a simple phrase to remember & as many millions did put on their mobile as a ringtone at the 17th Iberian Americas summit in 2007. Hugo Chavez speaking out of turn heckled the Spanish PM Zapatero gurgling away in fine form over how Aznar was a fascist. To which Zapatero (ZP) replied in exasperation that Aznar had been democratically elected (presumedly by the fascist half of Spain's voters). Hugo "the man" Chavez didn't stop his harrangue. Finally the King of Spain, Mr Bourbon shouted "porque no te calles" complete with upside down question and exclamation marks in the familiar form meaing "Why don't you shut up?!"

neither of them do shut up. therein lies the twain lie of global class war
neither of them do shut up. therein lies the twain lie of global class war



Oh well, for months afterwards we heard of little else as Hugo's popularity in Spain and Europe went down a lot of % points whilst back home Chavez reassured all that Mr King was no King of Venezuela anymore. Sweet little Mrs Bachelet of Chile whose job it had been to chairperson the summit and thus I suppose silence both motormouth Hugo and regal Bourbon whilst allowing ZP to sound characteristically liberal and nice, managed to get away without blame.

Then finally the "diplomatic spat" ended, Hugo today after much preparation met with Mr Bourbon the King of Spain in his holiday palace on the island of Mallorca. They hugged,.

Then they talked Oil, arms, Betancourt, Telly, Sun-tan lotion, yachts, Youtube & lobster.

& then Mr King gave him a T-shirt with "porque no te calles" written on it.

He did that as much as a way of making a meaningful gesture as for your consumption as public people who nobody really gives a toss about. Be impressed.
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It all either ends or begins with a T-shirt being my point.
You can't publish anaylsis without a point.

Youtube links to the original debacle:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw6JL_oTjU4&feature=related
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAmz8MNZdlk

BBC coverage of same :
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7089131.stm

iosaf

Comments

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addition - links to today's news & how you too can make a political T-shirt

25.07.2008 15:22

part the first - the official coverage ::


BBC English cover the make-up royal welcome without any mention of lobster
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7524574.stm Actually indeed if you check both BBC and the Spanish "El Pais" you will quickly expose me as a liar. They did not hug. Chavez had suggested it, but Mr Bourbon is reserved and only hugs popes or his own local VIP's especially when he is making them VIP's and they're smaller than him. He may be a big man, but so is Hugo. You can read about the "suggested hug" on the BBC. On "El Pais" you can read about how migration was included in the discussions and also expose my second lie, for as we know what important people eat is very newsworthy. Mr Chavez and Mr Bourbon didn't stretch to a G8 buffet "eat as much as you want dimsum special" but nor did they get to see who was better at cracking lobster. Not a hint of lobster on the menu. I made that up. Forgive me. Forget the lobster. You wouldn't like it anyway.  http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Petroleo/inmigracion/Chavez/Zapatero/elpepuesp/20080725elpepunac_12/Tes#despiece1  http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/apreton/manos/camiseta/sellan/reconciliacion/Rey/Chavez/elpepuesp/20080725elpepunac_2/Tes

part the second - how to make a political T-shirt ::

Making a political t-shirt really is a piece of piss. You just find yourself some cotton seeds, plant them, grow your own cotton, pick it yourself, spin it yourself, & then comes the exciting bit; you lock yourself up in an un-ventillated workshop and then after making your sewing machine as dangerous as possible - you write any words you don't really understand on the front of the T-shirt. The front is the side opposite the part which carries the (S) for small, (M) for medium (L) for large or (XL) for obese. It doesn't really matter what you write on the t-shirt. You could go for a photo instead. Photos are good. We live in a photographic age after all.

let us know how you get on.

iosaf

Hugo poses with his Royal T-shirt.

28.07.2008 15:01

happy boy with royal t-shirt
happy boy with royal t-shirt

doesn't he look the happy man. Happy men don't need lobster. These photos have only been released today to a domestic Venezuelan audience, but their global importance was soon picked up on by CNN who even went to the trouble of making a video.

I don't know if Hugo will be wearing his Royal t-shirt now more than his Che t-shirt. We'll just have to wait and see and watch.

iosaf