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A Picture is Worth... (Bush picture in Chile)
The Observer (University of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College) ^ | 11/22/2004 | Ken Fowler

Posted on 11/22/2004 11:20:31 AM PST by kfowler1

Inside Column

"A Picture's Worth..." by Ken Fowler

It's tough to describe adequately a powerful picture with pedestrian words, but there are some times when it's worth trying. One I saw Saturday night deserves the effort, as it accomplishes what only the great pieces of art do - it tells the story of something seemingly unrelated to the subject matter that is terribly important.

On the left, this photo shows Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and first lady Laura Bush smiling at reporters as they enter the ballroom in which an APEC gala dinner is about to commence. To the right, President Bush has stopped his progress, and he appears to be deciphering the reason for the commotion coming from the background.

He is stuck between going forward and turning back to resolve the problem.

In this case, his problem is that a Chilean police officer refused Bush's top on-site Secret Service agent entrance into the building. Clearly, a question of security arises when a foreign police force prevents the American president's personal security detail from escorting him into a large building.

Stuck with the options of either continuing on the path set before him - walking away from the confrontation and trusting a foreign force to maintain security and safety in what could be a dangerous situation - or going back and ending the possible security threat immediately, Bush chose the latter. Not surprised at the decision? Then picture is doing its job.

The scene that ensued was not as breathtaking as some have made it out to be. Bush reached into the pile and snapped his fingers, and the dispute was settled - the Chilean police would allow his Secret Service agent into the dinner. It took a little while for the scene to calm down, but Bush's presence was the deciding factor in how the situation would turn out.

In analyzing the sequence of events, maybe you will affectionately joke about the brazen attitude of our cowboy president and that he solves problems the way real people do.

On the other hand, the Pacers-Pistons brawl may come to mind, and you might think that the most powerful man in the world should not be meddling in the middle of a melee.

Whatever you think of the situation, the picture itself includes that story of something completely unrelated but incredibly important - a foreign leader walking ahead (to the left) as an American president, to the right, says "Hold on, I have to take care of something."

It demonstrates how tough decisions can tumult a president and a country, and it embodies the active, provocative policy of the Bush administration in foreign lands.

In a picture full of personifications, that's the overriding theme; in a world full of analogies, that's the main conflict of the day.

Here's hoping that Bush can solve the world's problems like he solved the one on Saturday.

The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: apec; art; brawl; bush; bushisababe; chile; fracas; gwb; melee; picture; pictures; secretservice; usss
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1 posted on 11/22/2004 11:20:32 AM PST by kfowler1
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To: kfowler1

The picture to me just shows a man who sees a problem
and instead of ignoring it, hoping it goes away,
fixes it!! That's why I like him.


2 posted on 11/22/2004 11:26:46 AM PST by groovychick
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To: kfowler1
Bush reached into the pile and snapped his fingers, and the dispute was settled ...


3 posted on 11/22/2004 11:26:47 AM PST by Quilla
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To: Quilla

Yeah, okay, I'll marry him.


4 posted on 11/22/2004 11:27:53 AM PST by freepertoo
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To: kfowler1

To use Theresa Heinz's words "SHOVE IT"


5 posted on 11/22/2004 11:27:54 AM PST by princess leah (\)
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To: kfowler1

BTTT


6 posted on 11/22/2004 11:28:13 AM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: freepertoo
FOFLOL!!!!!

Get in line, girl.

7 posted on 11/22/2004 11:28:43 AM PST by Quilla
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To: freepertoo

No! He's mine.


8 posted on 11/22/2004 11:30:27 AM PST by Trust but Verify (Their candidate uses rock stars to attract crowds. Ours IS a rock star!)
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To: freepertoo

LOL...you mean the President? :)


9 posted on 11/22/2004 11:30:34 AM PST by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: princess leah

Why did you bring Teresa up? Now I miss her ;) Where are my white raisins and my gin?


10 posted on 11/22/2004 11:31:22 AM PST by grandpiano007 (http://billclintondailydiary.blogspot.com You want fries with that shake?)
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To: Quilla

Is he home today? I'm hoping he left that god-forsaken place and came home.


11 posted on 11/22/2004 11:31:22 AM PST by angcat
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To: freepertoo

I want him, too!


12 posted on 11/22/2004 11:32:14 AM PST by KittyKares
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To: freepertoo

LOL!


13 posted on 11/22/2004 11:32:43 AM PST by mombonn ( ¡Viva Bush/Cheney! Dukakis and Kerry are the matching bookends of the Bush era.)
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To: kfowler1

I go into a self-imposed news blackout on the weekends and I didn't hear about this.

After hearing about what happened I am more confident than ever that I voted for the right person on November 2nd.

Bush ROCKS!


14 posted on 11/22/2004 11:33:04 AM PST by nuffsenuff
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To: Lady In Blue

Good article, Lady!

GWB Is The Man!


15 posted on 11/22/2004 11:33:07 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: angcat

I'm afraid he went to Columbia today, of all places. I'll be glad when he's home too.


16 posted on 11/22/2004 11:33:25 AM PST by Quilla
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

(((LOL...you mean the President? :))))

Yeah, when Laura's tired of him. Cough.


17 posted on 11/22/2004 11:34:00 AM PST by freepertoo
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To: freepertoo

Maybe we can clone him.


18 posted on 11/22/2004 11:34:34 AM PST by KittyKares
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To: freepertoo

O.K., ladies. Eat your hearts out. I married a man like that 43 years ago and he still looks fabulous to me today. Lucky me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dagny


19 posted on 11/22/2004 11:35:47 AM PST by Dagny Taggart
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To: freepertoo
Snort! LOL Thanks for making me laugh today..I really needed it! :)
20 posted on 11/22/2004 11:37:29 AM PST by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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