Persian leader spared the sight of Roman boobies

[MERIZoC]

Who. Gives. A. Shit.

[Geilinor]

Seems to me the basic rule of hospitality is to make your guest feel comfortable and welcome.

Yeah. It's like deciding not to serve pork at a state dinner for the Israeli delegation (or even the Iranian delegation, really).

Not serving pork to Jews and Muslims is completely different from changing your city's character and identity for a visit.

[Baltenstein]

Seems to me the basic rule of hospitality is to make your guest feel comfortable and welcome.

If your guest only feels welcome when you deny your own identity and culture, he's a rather rude guest, no?

Even so, the Italian authorities could have easily avoided this faux pas by inviting Mr Ruhani to one of the hundreds of other cultural places one can find in Rome. Last time I was in the Eternal City, I don't remember there being naked-boobie statues everywhere. (I hope Berlusconi didn't let things get out of hand since then... )

[The Archregimancy]

So, if Rouhani goes and visits the national museum in Tehran, do they cover up the Sassanian-period nudes on open display in the latter institution?

Nudes are unusual in pre-Islamic Persian art, but they definitely exist - and the Iranians see no need to hide as much.

Methinks the Italian protocol office were perhaps being unnecessarily coy.

[Baltenstein]

So, if Rouhani goes and visits the national museum in Tehran, do they cover up the Sassanian-period nudes on open display in the latter institution?

(Image)

Nudes are unusual in pre-Islamic Persian art, but they definitely exist - and the Iranians see no need to hide as much.

Methinks the Italian protocol office were perhaps being unnecessarily coy.

It seems that Persian statues are polite enough to cover up themselves.

[The Archregimancy]

So, if Rouhani goes and visits the national museum in Tehran, do they cover up the Sassanian-period nudes on open display in the latter institution?

(Image)

Nudes are unusual in pre-Islamic Persian art, but they definitely exist - and the Iranians see no need to hide as much.

Methinks the Italian protocol office were perhaps being unnecessarily coy.

It seems that Persian statues are polite enough to cover up themselves.

They do have strategically placed arms, but they also have at least one naked breast each. And they're not the only examples; they were just the first I could find when doing a quick search. When it comes to their own classical and ancient past, the Iranians aren't nearly as coy as we might think they are.

[Khadgar]

Seems to me the basic rule of hospitality is to make your guest feel comfortable and welcome.

If your guest only feels welcome when you deny your own identity and culture, he's a rather rude guest, no?

Even so, the Italian authorities could have easily avoided this faux pas by inviting Mr Ruhani to one of the hundreds of other cultural places one can find in Rome. Last time I was in the Eternal City, I don't remember there being naked-boobie statues everywhere. (I hope Berlusconi didn't let things get out of hand since then... :p )

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

[The Alma Mater]

If your guest only feels welcome when you deny your own identity and culture, he's a rather rude guest, no?

Even so, the Italian authorities could have easily avoided this faux pas by inviting Mr Ruhani to one of the hundreds of other cultural places one can find in Rome. Last time I was in the Eternal City, I don't remember there being naked-boobie statues everywhere. (I hope Berlusconi didn't let things get out of hand since then... )

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

He probably did. He also demands of France that no wine or haram food is served during the state banquet when he visits.
Note: he does not ask that HE (and his entourage) do not get served alcohol or pork etc. - but that NOONE gets it.
The French offered him state breakfast instead as compromise; but he deemed that unworthy of his status.

[The Archregimancy]

If your guest only feels welcome when you deny your own identity and culture, he's a rather rude guest, no?

Even so, the Italian authorities could have easily avoided this faux pas by inviting Mr Ruhani to one of the hundreds of other cultural places one can find in Rome. Last time I was in the Eternal City, I don't remember there being naked-boobie statues everywhere. (I hope Berlusconi didn't let things get out of hand since then... )

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

Well, next time the Italian Prime Minister visits the National Museum in Tehran, let's hope the Iranians cover up those Sassanian nudes to avoid embarrassing Renzi; he grew up in an observant Catholic family, after all, and if the Christian Discussion Thread is anything to go by, Catholics can be terribly uptight about sex.

[Talvezout]

This is news?

It's basically just the Italian authorities being nice to Rouhani, albeit without his permission. It's basically like not serving pork when the leader of Israel is at a dinner or something.

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

Well, next time the Italian Prime Minister visits the National Museum in Tehran, let's hope the Iranians cover up those Sassanian nudes to avoid embarrassing Renzi; he grew up in an observant Catholic family, after all, and if the Christian Discussion Thread is anything to go by, Catholics can be terribly uptight about sex.

It's the Catholic Church, what do you expect? Guilt is pretty much part of the standard package

(Note: Am Catholic)

[Novus America]

Well, I mean, then this is kinda pointless. If I were him, I'd ask them to take the covers off.

If he had, his oppositors at home would have had a field day.

No problem, the clerics just remove anyone who complains from the ballot. Iranian "democracy" is a joke as the clerics hand pick the candidates. Oh and they can veto anything the president and parliament do anyway.

[The Archregimancy]

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

He probably did. He also demands of France that no wine or haram food is served during the state banquet when he visits.
Note: he does not ask that HE (and his entourage) do not get served alcohol or pork etc. - but that NOONE gets it.
The French offered him state breakfast instead as compromise; but he deemed that unworthy of his status.

I don't really see that as a problem. State banquets are governed by strict diplomatic protocols, and it would be inane to serve alcohol or pork at a state banquet for a visiting Muslim head of state, regardless of whether said head of state was from a theocracy or a secular state.

The statues, though, strike me as slightly silly overenthusiasm given what I keep pointing out about the presence of classical nudes in Iranian museums.

[Baltenstein]

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

He probably did. He also demands of France that no wine or haram food is served during the state banquet when he visits.
Note: he does not ask that HE (and his entourage) do not get served alcohol or pork etc. - but that NOONE gets it.
The French offered him state breakfast instead as compromise; but he deemed that unworthy of his status.

Really?
Sauce for that?

[Novus America]

Did he request it? If no, then it's not fucking rude.

He probably did. He also demands of France that no wine or haram food is served during the state banquet when he visits.
Note: he does not ask that HE (and his entourage) do not get served alcohol or pork etc. - but that NOONE gets it.
The French offered him state breakfast instead as compromise; but he deemed that unworthy of his status.

Well if he wants to play Prima Donna they should just tell him to fuck off.

[Crockerland]

The guy who defended "death to America"? Keep him off NATO soil.

[Baltenstein]

It's basically just the Italian authorities being nice to Rouhani, albeit without his permission. It's basically like not serving pork when the leader of Israel is at a dinner or something.

No, it's not. It's about the notion that Italian art is offensive and sinful, and the Italian authorities (well, some of them at least) going along with it, inside their own country.

The equivalent would be that Renzi hates Persian carpets (for whatever reason) and the Iranians remove every sign of them when he's visiting Teheran.

If no, then it's not fucking rude.

If he didn't request it, they shouldn't have done it in the first place.

They shouldn't have done it even if he requested it, to be honest.

[Anollasia]

I consider it as art. There is nothing more beautiful than the human body.

[Bogdanov Vishniac]

Yeah. It's like deciding not to serve pork at a state dinner for the Israeli delegation (or even the Iranian delegation, really).

Not serving pork to Jews and Muslims is completely different from changing your city's character and identity for a visit.

I would imagine that dishes containing pork are also pretty important to Italian culture and identity too. Excluding them from a state meal presumably meant to convey the finest dishes Italian cuisine can offer changes the character and identity of the cuisine to.

[Novus America]

The guy who defended "death to America"? Keep him off NATO soil.

But the Europeans need that sweet, sweet oil. Everyone knows oil gives you a free pass on human rights, terrorism, etc.

[Geilinor]

Not serving pork to Jews and Muslims is completely different from changing your city's character and identity for a visit.

I would imagine that dishes containing pork are also pretty important to Italian culture and identity too. Excluding them from a state meal presumably meant to convey the finest dishes Italian cuisine can offer changes the character and identity of the cuisine to.

You visit a country because there's something you respect, like, or want. Rouhani wants better relations with Italy, then he should act like it - however, I know that he didn't ask for this.

[Camelza]

I don't think he would say anything if they didn't cover up the statues, I doubt he would be even bothered by it considering nude historical statues are present in Iran as well without being covered.
I'm certain Rouhani is not a dumbass that would throw a tandrum over naked statues, so the Italian authorities overreacted a bit.

[Geilinor]

The guy who defended "death to America"? Keep him off NATO soil.

But the Europeans need that sweet, sweet oil. Everyone knows oil gives you a free pass on human rights, terrorism, etc.

You have to be realistic. Human rights has never stopped people from meeting with Saudi, Russian or Chinese leaders.

[Politically Correct Fascist Feminists]

UNNACEPTABLE WOMAN ARE GODDESES HE NEEDS TO CHECK HIS WHITE CIS MALE PRIVILEGE WHAT A PIG

[Novus America]

But the Europeans need that sweet, sweet oil. Everyone knows oil gives you a free pass on human rights, terrorism, etc.

You have to be realistic. Human rights has never stopped people from meeting with Saudi, Russian or Chinese leaders.

Yes. Because money is all.
I understand that is the way it is.

[MERIZoC]

UNNACEPTABLE WOMAN ARE GODDESES HE NEEDS TO CHECK HIS WHITE CIS MALE PRIVILEGE WHAT A PIG

Whooooo boy.