June 22, 2007
World leaders and their spare time
Tony Blair is working right up to the last minute. Some FT colleagues and I went to see him earlier this week, for top-secret discussions about the future of Europe. But just as interesting as the off-the-record stuff (I thought), was what Blair had to say about the Oscar-winning film, “The Queen” – which portrays Blair and the Queen, dealing with the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana.
“I haven’t seen it” he said firmly, “and the Queen hasn’t either” Perhaps you should arrange a joint showing?, I suggested. “How about next Wednesday?”, his press secretary chimed in. I thought Blair winced slightly at this. Next Wednesday is the day that he goes to Buckingham Palace to resign.
Meanwhile, in news of other world leaders: this week I came across somebody who had recently met Kim Jong Il, the dictator of North Korea. I asked whether Kim was obviously crazy. Apparently not – he is alert and a good conversationalist. My informant claimed to have met American officials who seemed madder.
But surely, I pressed, Kim is incredibly isolated and ill-informed about the world. Again, my informant disagreed: “He knows a lot. He spends all day glued to the internet.” An odd thought. Maybe he is, in fact, "Chen" who seems to post quite a lot of comments on my blog. If so, Mr Kim/Chen, may I appeal to you – in the interests of world peace – to give up your nuclear weapons? You know it makes sense.
I would like to add my support to your plea to Mr Chen!
Posted by: PL | June 22nd, 2007 at 10:39 am | Report this commentOh heck, now that Chen is outed, soon I shall be rumbled too
Posted by: Pacifist | June 22nd, 2007 at 1:01 pm | Report this commentDear Mr.Rachman. You got me, I am Kim Jong Il.
Posted by: Chen | June 22nd, 2007 at 1:53 pm | Report this commentNo, I will not give up my nukes, If Iran has them, I will not be the World’s Craziest leaer, which I am very proud to be.
Dear Mr.Rachman, I take pro-US stance on this blog, do you really think I am Kim Jong Il?? Oh my God, Pacifist, you take pro-iranian position, perhaps they will think you are Mr.Bush or Mr.Cheney.
Oh this is funny indeed.
But to be honest, I am very surprised to hear that. I study in the UK, I study math and economics, so I have very pro-free market and liberal things on life. How come I look like a ignorant north korean leader who puts his people into starvation?? I may not be good at articulating myself well which makes me look ‘angry and irrational’, but it is sad to hear that I ’sound like North Korean dictator’.
Hi Chen,
You are not studying Mathematical Economics and Econometrics at the LSE, pechance?
P
Posted by: Pacifist | June 22nd, 2007 at 3:01 pm | Report this commentLOL Chen, no I am not, and it is getting personal again.
Posted by: Chen | June 22nd, 2007 at 4:40 pm | Report this commentI will transfer to study ‘how to persuade people you are not Kim Jong Il’.
The thought that Mr.Rachman actually could think that I am Kim Jong Il makes me LAUGH.
Dear Mr.Rachman, I really love your articles even more now.
I meant *LOL Pacifist*
Posted by: Chen | June 22nd, 2007 at 4:40 pm | Report this commentChen, I think Gideon was just joking about you being Kim Jong Il. Take it easy man. Although… if Mr. Kim does in fact read this blog, I’d love to hear him weigh in. Come on, you have nothing to lose!
Posted by: Luke | June 22nd, 2007 at 7:45 pm | Report this commentI believe you Chen, although it takes a leap of faith. But what is Blair working on “right up to the last minute”? Any normal person would long have tidied up their desk and settled into a comfortable ‘last days’ routine of arriving late at work, leaving early, and having four hour liquid lunches in-between.
Posted by: strategist | June 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 am | Report this commentYes Mr. Kim is such an interesting chap, so very lively and “articulate”, has learned from many western ideas and modernities inspiring him to create gated communities such as http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&om=1&t=k&ll=42.441543,129.754243&spn=0.01707,0.031972&z=15
at which location he entertains his comrades with spectacles as described in this guardian piece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,2763,1136483,00.html
Sometimes its fun to sit in our comfy wealth and laugh about people such as Mr. Kim and his country until the sickening truth hits home. Or does it? Die Untergang des Abendlandes described that we believe democracy is corrupted, that our Weimar republic will fall because at the core we are rotten. That anyone who pretends to believe in moral absolutes is either a brainwashed puppet or a dangerous provocateur. Pollice verso on us all, Gideon! You ever thought about how lonely Franz Kafka must have felt?
Felix (who, in his spare time is President of an oil rich Persian nation).
Posted by: Felix Drost, Amsterdam | June 23rd, 2007 at 7:29 pm | Report this commentIt is just a little bit stereotypical (?) of an English speaking person – or naïve - to assume anyone of a foreign name could actually be somebody else of a foreign name that they know! But I think it was said for the interests of humour, and not in any attempt to attack or condemn. Although perhaps Chen is not laughing for the deformation of his cyber net persona.
It is quite funny when taken as a joke. But I suppose, Gideon, when you beat the Midianites all those years ago in Egypt it gave you a certain faith in un-coincidental coincidence.
Anyway, the sad thing about this Jong - if he is as well informed as people make out, well then that’s just sad. It means he is probably the real definition of evil - knowledgeable, so should be knowledgeable about what is right, but instead, acts in his own selfish and immoral interests. If he’s not crazy, then he’s just a mean and evil, and spoilt dictator. And about the comparison with the American officials - I’m not sure if that’s a ”just” comparison for sanity. I mean just how crazy do you have to be?
Posted by: Clare | June 26th, 2007 at 5:19 pm | Report this commentAmerica is not exactly known for its sanity and for its freedom from ignorance.
Try again, Gideon.
Also, even crazy people have their good days, where they are ‘’more alert and conversational’’, I’m sure. You know, we all have our good days.
Clare (no, I am not famous in any way, either- until now, on this blog).
Cheers.
Have to agree with Clare - Chen is not even a typical Korean name. It is as Korean as ‘Smith’ is Italian.
Posted by: Silver | June 26th, 2007 at 8:35 pm | Report this commentI am not hurt by Gideon Rachman or anything, I really loved the joke I thought it was very funny. The only thing that concerned me was that ‘I could potentially look like Kim Jong Il’.
Posted by: Chen | June 26th, 2007 at 10:30 pm | Report this commentClare I agree with you, if he is well-informed and knowledgebale then he is a perfect example of evilishness from the movies.
I agree with Clare. Mr Rachman must be poorly versed in these issues indeed if he thinks “Chen” could be a Korean name!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pm | Report this comment