April 24, 2016
Section: Sunday Brunch.
Topic: El indignado de Estambul
Uso justo de los medios…
The thing about comedy and political commentary as a trade, or at least the attempt to put it into practice, is that parody can be a very serious thing. Be it through ridicule or revelation, the conscientious and systematic embarrassment of a foreign political ruler can lead to a wide variety of punishments, all transgressions to authority being dealt [of course] depending on the legalese, but most important: the country where the judge will sit.
If the offense [dared*] happened in a place like the Mexican state of Veracruz, the consequences can lead [it seems] to a premature or an unforeseen loss of life; if the offending party is lucky, then the medicine will come in the form of torture, then years of prison will await, unless you are Florence Cassez and your case can be used as the thing that American pundits call: a political football [on an international scale].
*¿A qué viaja el presidente Enrique Peña Nieto a Turquía?
CNN Polítco
If on the other hand, the smear took place in a lawful society, [digamos la Alemania en el 2016] where public interest prevents the automatic prosecution of crimes, especially the type considered arcane, then the punishment can range from a fine to the revocation of a privilege [say a visa], or maybe even some jail time [i’ve been told… but only if you slander].
With regards to this on-going row between Germany and Turkey, a recent editorial on Erdoğan’s Turkey* makes a good point suggesting [not really] that if the U.K. wanted to be silly, cell blocks would be at capacity come November 1st since the night time activities of the previous evening, “would result in Halloween treak-or-treaters being charged for wilfully and wantonly knocking on doors.” In other words, kids being burned [not literally] for fairy tale inspired law. Now that! [Just like a Donald Trump presidency] would be silly, and then as that image sinks in your head, probably appalling.
*The Guardian view on the Jan Böhmermann affair: no joke
As long as the Bismarck-era law remains in the books, the despotic Erdoğan has the upper-hand. My guess is that in order to get a better grasp of the story elements and secure a better understanding of this situation one would have to factor in the humanitarian element of the war refugees [not immigrants] from the Middle-East, which Germany recently absorbed.
Uso justo de una conmemoración. | Uso justo de los medios y de las noticias de Gabriel García Márquez en la tierra ancestral de uno de los mejores interpretes de La Bohème: Charles Aznavour… || Frank Walker is George Clooney’s character in Disney’s 2015 production of Tomorrowland.
Frank Walker has a pretty watch, but his alter ego’s coffee habit
kind of defeats the purpose of the COP21 —in New York.