Kofi Annan mediates between muppet rivals
December 14, 2001 12:28 AM   Subscribe

Kofi Annan mediates between muppet rivals and says that "diplomats could learn a thing or two from its characters." Muppets in politics seem to be emblematic of the current conflicts these days...
posted by readymade (10 comments total)
 
This is shameful. He can get in the middle and separate combatants for a TV show, but not when actual lives are at stake.
posted by youthbc1 at 2:49 AM on December 14, 2001


looks like bert was evil after all........
posted by quarsan at 3:38 AM on December 14, 2001


And this makes Kofi Annan the first Nobel laureate to appear on Sesame Street. This factoid brought to you by the letter "A".
posted by MAYORBOB at 3:52 AM on December 14, 2001


From Kofi Annan's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech:
"Today's real borders are not between nations, but between powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated."
posted by Carol Anne at 4:37 AM on December 14, 2001


"Today's real borders are not between nations, but between powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated."

Yeah...unlike every other era! Gee, is it also 'the best of times, and the worst of times'?
posted by HTuttle at 5:14 AM on December 14, 2001


He is only the third politician on the show in recent years - first ladies Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton have also appeared.

I seem to recall Ralph Nader coming on the show (if you consider him a politician). He was one of the "people in your neighborhood." It was kind of funny because they went from singing a "fireman is a person in your neighborhood" to a "consumer advocate is a person in your neighborhood." I always had a soft spot for Nader after seeing him on there. Maybe that will be a campaign tactic next election--a spot on Sesame Street.
posted by bluefly at 5:55 AM on December 14, 2001


Maybe that will be a campaign tactic next election--a spot on Sesame Street

There was a Sesame Street character after the 1992 election called H. Ross Parrot, who was a bird with a very familiar southern accent.
posted by owillis at 6:08 AM on December 14, 2001


First, let's correct the spelling error: it's puppet not muppet.

Next, we have a plethora of puppets at Pennsylvania Avenue (ooh, alliteration) so there's no need for Sesame Street to have political figures. Except maybe their strings are cheaper to pull? :)
posted by nofundy at 7:56 AM on December 14, 2001


The puppets on Sesame Streets are Muppets, nofundy. Catch a clue.

As to Annan spending time on the Street, should we be surprised? His entire tenure as SG has been about lip service and propaganda. Why not market to the very receptive kiddy set too? That's about the only demographic that hasn't been on the receiving end of UN PR and spin.
posted by Dreama at 10:42 AM on December 14, 2001


Uhh, Dreama, I agree with you that there's no reason to be shocked at Secretary General Annan's appearance on that venerable program, but I would take issue with your conclusions as to why. Annan has been a strong, active leader who, despite hardships has managed to maintain peace.

No, I didn't mean any of that, it was just an excuse to link.
posted by Hildago at 1:45 PM on December 14, 2001


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