Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

IRAQIS ON TOUR BANNED FROM MEMPHIS HALL
Associated Press, 08/04/04

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Iraqis visiting on a civil rights tour were barred from city hall after the city council chairman said it was too dangerous to let them in.

The seven Iraqi civic and community leaders are in the midst of a three-week American tour, sponsored by the State Department to learn more about the process of government. The trip also includes stops in Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Iraqis were scheduled to meet with a city council member, but Joe Brown, the council chair, said he feared the group was dangerous.

"We don't know exactly what's going on. Who knows about the delegation, and has the FBI been informed?" Brown said. "We must secure and protect all the
employees in that building."

Elisabeth Silverman, the group's host and head of the Memphis Council for International Visitors, said Brown told her he would "evacuate the building and bring in the bomb squads" if the group entered.

"They are in charge of setting up processes in their country. They have to educate themselves about how it works in this country," Silverman said…

Link to the site

Just one word, huh?

Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Why?? Why do they HAVE to educated about how it works in the US? Why not another country? Why not several?

Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Well it's because the US is right, good and just in every aspect of our society ;)

^ Because this is the land of the freedom ;)

Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Well, they went to Memphis to pay respect to the King.

Re: Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Oh. My bad. ;)

Man, these guys just don't have good luck in Memphis.

They got robbed there too

At least they got apologies from the mayor and other councilors

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=2133801

Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Looks like the Iraqis aren't the only ones in need of a bit of education. :rolleyes:

it's the south... what did you expect?

So you get to call southerners out based on a stereotypical view held by yourself for being ignorant. As if these idjits in Memphis represent the entire South? Looks like you're trying to have it both ways there.

You said idjits:D

I agree with you totally.

I expected them to be gracious and polite to the visiting delegation. Unfortunately this did not happen.

I cringe to think what would happen in Iowa. :rolleyes:

Like Iowa is the bastion for all high class intelligence, class and customs....

Sounds like Memphis. After living there 4 years I figured out their city officials aren't too bright at all, especially mayor Herenton.

They weren't exactly in the best part of Memphis either. But, no witnesses, I'm gonna call B.S. on that. There's people all over the place downtown at night.

I experienced downtown Memphis a couple of years ago when I took the first exit after the bridge over the Mississippi (eastbound) to get gas at 4AM. There's a MapCo there. Was offered a rock of some kind of drug (guessing it was meth) and hit up for money within probably 30 seconds of getting out of the car.

It's a lively place at 4AM. The cops won't even get out of their cars :D

Now did you learn after running through the Iowa cornfields Jethro?

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Martin Luther King, Jr.? Where he was assasinated, and where the new South had allegedly risen.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

I meant this King:

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/images/vc265.jpg

Of course it wouldn't happen in Iowa, in Iowa they would just watch the corn grow and pretend they were better than other midwestern states because they have corn.

My friend lives in Memphis and he said a lot of people there were appalled at what happened.

You bet! And we feed the whole country with our corn production. At least we are not flatter than pancakes like an *unknown* state.

Don't forget the cow tipping and FFA.

I think we should change the title of this thread into "stereotypical issues" thread for Iraqis, the south, and Iowa.

Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

my guess is because we invaded thier country and killed lots of people. That was the plan all along-- to foster a democratic (American sympathetic) government, right?

Re: Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

Yes, you're right. It was OK for them to be killed by Saddam. You're so right.

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Iraqis On Tour Banned From Memphis Hall
 

So what you're saying is that they were better off with genocides and mass graves?

You really believe that?

a group of seven iraqi civic and community leaders is taking a tour of government facilities in major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. because the tour is sponsored by the State Department, i assume that they've been screened or checked out.

i wouldn't have let them in, either. " Seven men from a country my leaders are sending bombs to...are checking out WHAT?" it may be distasteful, disrespectful, or ignorant of him to turn them back, but i'd have done the same. buildings in NYC are being cased and intelligence is being gathered on us. denying iraqi civic/community leaders access to goverment buildings in densely populated areas doesn't seem like some far-fetched faux security risk. i think it's a valid concern, and he shouldn't be made to look like some ignorant southern bumpkin for addressing it.

get on Amazon.com and find 6 text books they can use to learn about the governing process. one of them will have to share his book with a partner.

Class, since many of the classiest and nicest people I've ever met were from the South.

You're just on a roll today, aren't you?

Collin, excuse this kid - some of us have actually ventured outside of the state of Iowa, grown a bit of perspective, and prospered for it (-or- didn't go to moo u).




Some just run face on the internet.

Don't worry about it, I've liked everyone I've met from Iowa.

Except for that girl who was all involved in Dance Marathon...

i was afraid i was going to meet her - i was expecting my rabbit to get boiled