A Primitive Comes To New York
Gaddafi, who was visiting the U.N., pitched his tent in a ritzy suburb of the state -- and that's not just a metaphor. The Guardian's Paul Harris writes:
For the people of Bedford the problem was not so much getting Colonel Gaddafi off the UN podium - more about getting his tent off their lawn.The exclusive community, nestling in pretty wooded hills 30 miles north of Manhattan, is home to Hollywood actors, media moguls and ultra-wealthy bankers. But when the Libyan leader's Bedouin tent was pitched amid their mansions, horse stables and country lanes some residents took umbrage.
"I think it stinks. I know it is because he is at the UN, but that is another place he shouldn't be," fumed one shopper walking by Bedford's village green, who declined to give her name.
The town's leaders agreed. When news suddenly broke of a mysterious construction taking shape on land owned by Donald Trump, the local council swiftly tried to shut it down. Teams of workers, who spoke no English, were told to stop work. A criminal suit was threatened by Bedford attorney Joel Sachs, who called the tent an "illegal structure".
Local Democratic congressman John Hall condemned the idea of Gaddafi visiting his district. "This sponsor of terror is not welcome here," he said.
Trump appeared to suggest he had no idea that a rental deal he had struck with Arab businessmen was in fact for the tent. "The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners who may or may not have a relationship to Mr Gaddafi. We are looking into the matter now," a Trump spokeswoman said.
Picture here. The terrorism-celebrating nutbag spoke Wednesday at the U.N. and the tent was dismantled.
More disturbing than this crackpot's visit and the platform given him by this now-useless and too often damaging body are some of the words by Obama at the U.N. For example, there's this naivete:
I have outlined a comprehensive agenda to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons. In Moscow, the United States and Russia announced that we would pursue substantial reductions in our strategic warheads and launchers. At the Conference on Disarmament, we agreed on a work plan to negotiate an end to the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. And this week, my Secretary of State will become the first senior American representative to the annual Members Conference of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Loved this dis of America, too:
Democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside. Each society must search for its own path, and no path is perfect. Each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its people, and - in the past - America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy. But that does not weaken our commitment, it only reinforces it. There are basic principles that are universal; there are certain truths which are self evident - and the United States of America will never waiver in our efforts to stand up for the right of people everywhere to determine their own destiny.
More:
The United Nations does extraordinary good around the world in feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and mending places that have been broken. But it also struggles to enforce its will, and to live up to the ideals of its founding.
Ya think?
The United Nations can either be a place where we bicker about outdated grievances, or forge common ground; a place where we focus on what drives us apart, or what brings us together; a place where we indulge tyranny, or a source of moral authority. In short, the United Nations can be an institution that is disconnected from what matters in the lives of our citizens, or it can be indispensable in advancing the interests of the people we serve.
And now, let's all join hands and sing Kumbaya.
History provides examples of democracy being imposed. The first that comes to my mind is Japan.
Pseudonym at September 24, 2009 6:06 AM
You notice how, after eight years of laying low, Gaddafi is prancing around again all of a sudden? Gee, wonder why that is?
Cousin Dave at September 24, 2009 6:32 AM
I'm not quite sure why a tent is such as big deal... I mean, its a tent, it is temporary. If Trump wants to rent his property to dictators, that is his business. Do we need to start asking our neighbors to vet our temporary tenants now?
NicoleK at September 24, 2009 7:29 AM
America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy.
Leftists always make these sorts of claims, but when you ask for specific examples, they inevitably cite Marxist and authoritarian regimes like Cuba, or their new favorite Venezuela.
Maurice at September 24, 2009 7:35 AM
"America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy."
Not sure how to take this. American intervention was incredibly valuable in WWII and the cold war. However, the little interventions in Central America and the Middle East have been almost uniformly disastrous. The regimes in these areas that America actively supports, such as Pakistan and Saudia Arabia are often simply loathsome.
Maybe America needs to be even more selective?
bradley13 at September 24, 2009 7:42 AM
There is just so much wrong with B.O. and the direction of his administration, I just don't know where to start...
But there are those that would say I was racist for not supporting him.
"SIGH"
Ari at September 24, 2009 8:08 AM
"But it [the U.N.] also struggles to enforce its will, and to live up to the ideals of its founding."
Enforce its will? Is this a will we got to vote on?
old rpm daddy at September 24, 2009 8:10 AM
Speaking of Gaddafi in NYC, here is proof positive that even dogs have more good sense than Obama & the entire UN put together:
http://dinahlord.typepad.com/dinah_lord/2009/09/gaddafis-upcoming-trip-to-nyc-doggone-will-he-end-up-living-in-his-car.html
I hope Lucy will be ready to do her duty if he ever shows up in LA.
Martin (Ontario) at September 24, 2009 8:51 AM
"...the United States of America will never [waver] in our efforts to stand up for the right of people everywhere to determine their own destiny." -- B.Obama
So why has Obama's government, through the use of sanctions and other coercion, been trying to force Honduras to violate its constitution and illegally re-install a Chavez socialist ally to its presidency for several weeks now? Or, in the view of his administration, can "people everywhere...determine their own destiny" only when they choose what socialists want them to choose?
cpabroker at September 24, 2009 9:04 AM
This is silly. The UN is in the US. They all to stay somewhere. This is only a story because a bunch of rich NIMBYs. His tent is no more objectionable than, say, renting an entire floor of a five-star hotel.
Tyler at September 24, 2009 9:15 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2009/09/24/a_primitive_com.html#comment-1669348">comment from TylerThis is silly. The UN is in the US. They all to stay somewhere. This is only a story because a bunch of rich NIMBYs. His tent is no more objectionable than, say, renting an entire floor of a five-star hotel.
Areas have zoning laws. This probably has one. People there are free to vote or vote legislators in who past them.
Ask yourself where the bathrooms are.
Amy Alkon
at September 24, 2009 9:27 AM
What is wrong with admitting that "America has been selective in promoting democracy"? How is that a dis? This is fact. Democracy promotion was only fetishized by the GWB administration; in the cold war era we propped up some nasty undemocratic leaders. Remember the picture with Rumsfeld and Saddam Hussein from the era when we armed him in the war against Iran? Or how about the tinpot Latin American dictators we supported against populist leftist movements?
We have promoted democracy when it was perceived to be in out interests and looked the other way when it was not. There is nothing wrong with this. What's wrong is thinking democracy to be a panacea. How's democracy helped the Palestinian problem? Would you favor democracy in Pakistan if it meant that an Islamist party controlled their nuclear arsenal? Would you be OK if Iraq ended up governed like Egypt with a sham democracy that maintains a relative degree of stability and is at peace with its neighbors?
Whatever at September 24, 2009 9:48 AM
I haven't heard of many suburbs forbidding tents... otherwise, how would people have big parties and weddings in their backyards?
He probably goes in the house to pee. Maybe he rented a fancy portapotty.
As a landlord, I don't want to have to vet my tenants past all the neighbors... no one would pass.
I don't think a law that says, "Sure you can have a tent up for an event, but only if your neighbors personally approve of all your guests" makes sense.
If he is in fact peeing in the bushes, they can arrest him for that. Beyond that, people have a right to rent their property to anyone who legally qualifies. Qadafi is legally in this country.
NicoleK at September 24, 2009 11:56 AM
I'm sure this was no regular tent, and no peeing in the yard. When I was in the refugee camps set up in Albania a decade ago, it was startling and impressive to see the things that could be done with tents. No matter where I was in country, I tried to wait to use the bathrooms the Saudis had set up -- nicer than any I've ever had at home. Oh, and a full-on hospital, too. (But, yes, Amy, the French had the best food/drink in the fridges in their quarters -- also adorable designer uniforms and you'd sometimes catch them sunbathing in their underwear stationed beside an Army man in head-to-toe gear.)
MomofRae at September 24, 2009 1:03 PM
The UN is a joke. It should be shut down permanently. The snctions is issues but will not enforce are a joke. the fact that Libya is on the security council is a joke. the fact that Iran is speeding towards nukes and nobody seems to care is a joke. Boom
ron at September 24, 2009 5:49 PM
I genuinely treasure your work , Great post.
My Lovely Job at November 2, 2011 12:43 AM
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