Friday, March 17, 2006
Leaders and Ponchos
What we wear reflects our status and state of mind - you won't find a national accounts manager heading into work wearing small shorts and a poncho.
I don't wake up thinking "I feel so good, I'm going to head into the kitchen, wrap myself in cling wrap and somersault down to the milk bar." Instead I'll probably wake up thinking about how much I need to go the toilet, or how I wish I hadn't woken up at all.
So do world leaders ever appear infallible? Do they have moments where their air of power they assume magically transforms into an air of silliness? I think there is a time when presidents and prime ministers serve their time of humbleness - where they appear even laughable, and that is at the annual APEC summit.
If you're unfamiliar with this annual meeting of the who's who of international leaders then I'll fill you in: world leaders get together every year at a host country and talk about things, such as cigars, wine and most likely golf. I think they would also chatter excitedly about the highlight of every APEC summit, and that is the anticipation surrounding wearing of the host country's national dress. At the end of every summit, the leaders don the national dress for a photo call, and for me this overshadows any ground-breaking tariff deals or resource sharing.
The photo is a bit small isn't it? Check out this close up:
John wouldn't know bad fashion if it overtook him on a powerwalk, but George Bush? He looks slightly embarrassed doesn't he? This one was taken at the 2004 summit in Mexico. Here are some past years highlights:
George has that knowing look that some how's your father may have happened one cigar smokin', whisky swillin' night with the guy in front of him. John is probably clueless.
Is there something we don't know? Is our Prime Minister a good kisser? Too much tongue? Maybe we should ask George. I know one thing, even the best of us can have a bad fashion day. For some of us we have no choice, and the consquences involve every major source of media around the world. My only gripe is that it only happens once a year, and I'm sick of seeing our leaders wear suits. Is there ever a casual clothes day or would that be a bad move as far as leader popularity goes? Anyway whatever the case, I'm going to put on my bikini made from watermelons and yesterdays newspaper, and hold my own summit of tropical nations that don't exist.
One might be Palm Palm Island, where there are no people, just palm trees. Who can forget Caravanalan? A quaint little nation who's chief export is caravans, but at the same time doesn't exist. These little nations slip under the radar which is a shame really, as the Japanese don't have any nations to exploit and bribe so they let them whale in their waters.
Poncho poncho!
I don't wake up thinking "I feel so good, I'm going to head into the kitchen, wrap myself in cling wrap and somersault down to the milk bar." Instead I'll probably wake up thinking about how much I need to go the toilet, or how I wish I hadn't woken up at all.
So do world leaders ever appear infallible? Do they have moments where their air of power they assume magically transforms into an air of silliness? I think there is a time when presidents and prime ministers serve their time of humbleness - where they appear even laughable, and that is at the annual APEC summit.
If you're unfamiliar with this annual meeting of the who's who of international leaders then I'll fill you in: world leaders get together every year at a host country and talk about things, such as cigars, wine and most likely golf. I think they would also chatter excitedly about the highlight of every APEC summit, and that is the anticipation surrounding wearing of the host country's national dress. At the end of every summit, the leaders don the national dress for a photo call, and for me this overshadows any ground-breaking tariff deals or resource sharing.
The photo is a bit small isn't it? Check out this close up:
John wouldn't know bad fashion if it overtook him on a powerwalk, but George Bush? He looks slightly embarrassed doesn't he? This one was taken at the 2004 summit in Mexico. Here are some past years highlights:
George has that knowing look that some how's your father may have happened one cigar smokin', whisky swillin' night with the guy in front of him. John is probably clueless.
Is there something we don't know? Is our Prime Minister a good kisser? Too much tongue? Maybe we should ask George. I know one thing, even the best of us can have a bad fashion day. For some of us we have no choice, and the consquences involve every major source of media around the world. My only gripe is that it only happens once a year, and I'm sick of seeing our leaders wear suits. Is there ever a casual clothes day or would that be a bad move as far as leader popularity goes? Anyway whatever the case, I'm going to put on my bikini made from watermelons and yesterdays newspaper, and hold my own summit of tropical nations that don't exist.One might be Palm Palm Island, where there are no people, just palm trees. Who can forget Caravanalan? A quaint little nation who's chief export is caravans, but at the same time doesn't exist. These little nations slip under the radar which is a shame really, as the Japanese don't have any nations to exploit and bribe so they let them whale in their waters.
Poncho poncho!
