Persian leader spared the sight of Roman boobies

[Baltenstein]

I recall the ambassador to the Byzantines from the holy Roman empire saying something along the lines of "omg this food is the worst please get me out of here"
It's best to serve em up what they want, in both contexts

Yep.

Liutprand bishop of the holy church of Cremona desires, wishes and prays that the Ottos, the unconquerable emperors of the Romans,-and the most glorious Adelaide flourish, prosper and be triumphant.

Why it was that you did not receive my former letters or my envoy the following explanation will make clear. On the day before the Nones of June (June 4) we came to Constantinople, and there, as a mark of disrespect to yourselves, being shamefully received, we were harshly and shamefully treated. We were shut up in a palace large enough, indeed, but uncovered, neither keeping out the cold nor warding off the heat. Armed soldiers were made to stand guard who were to prevent all of my companions from going out and all others from coming in. This dwelling, into which we alone who were shut up could pass, was so far removed from the palace that our breath was taken away when we walked there - we did not ride. To add to our calamity the Greek wine, on account of being mixed with pitch, resin, and plaster was to us undrinkable- The house itself was without water, nor could we even for money buy water to still our thirst. To this great torment was added another torment - our warden namely, who cared for our daily support. If one were to look for his like, not earth. but perhaps hell, would furnish it; for he, like an inundating torrent, poured forth on us whatever calamity, whatever plunder, whatever expense, whatever torment, whatever misery he could invent.- Nor among a hundred and twenty days did a single one pass without bringing us groaning and grief.

The whinging goes on for another 30 pages after that.

If he was such a whiny pussy, he should not have become ambassador to a foreign country in the first place. If I would have been Byzantine emperor, I would have kicked this joker's sorry ass all the way back to Aachen.

[Novus America]

Yes, but you do not expect them to change for you.

If a European leader went to Iran he would not demand Persian food not be served. Or that Iranian women remove their head covering.

There is a difference between not liking something and making demands.

I recall the ambassador to the Byzantines from the holy Roman empire saying something along the lines of "omg this food is the worst please get me out of here"
It's best to serve em up what they want, in both contexts

Just because a Byzantine ambassador was a whiny little punk, does not make Rouhani less of one...

[Kubra]

I recall the ambassador to the Byzantines from the holy Roman empire saying something along the lines of "omg this food is the worst please get me out of here"
It's best to serve em up what they want, in both contexts

Just because a Byzantine ambassador was a whiny little punk, does not make Rouhani less of one...

when it comes to food the behaviour you call punkish is pretty much the norm
Fucking tourists, am I right?

[Baltenstein]

I recall the ambassador to the Byzantines from the holy Roman empire saying something along the lines of "omg this food is the worst please get me out of here"
It's best to serve em up what they want, in both contexts

Just because a Byzantine ambassador was a whiny little punk, does not make Rouhani less of one...

It was the Holy Roman ambassador who behaved like a whiny little bitch, not the Byzantine one.

[Constantinopolis]

Sounds like idiocy , it's just art.

Muslims consider art to be offensive.

[The Princes of the Universe]

Muslims consider art to be offensive.

Using facts on a Tea Partier? Exercise in futility, but that's your prerogative.

[Saint Kitten]

Sounds like idiocy , it's just art.

Muslims consider art to be offensive.

Perhaps you mean nude art, or even just art depicting humans (and animals if I recall correctly). Islamic art, however, is actually a thing, and it's quite stunning.

[The Nuclear Fist]

Given that the Iranian government seems to think that anything that brings joy or meaning to someone's miserable life that doesn't involve praying towards Mecca forty times a day is automatically evil and a product of Satan, this sounds about par for the course.

It's not that big of a deal, but it would have been better if they'd all just not met in a fucking museum.

[Nariterrr]

Fuck him. The vatican should be proud of its statues, it worked fucking hard to make them. And they cover it up for some Fundamentalist Bastard. If I was the pope, I'd give the guy a middle finger.

[Baltenstein]

Fuck him. The vatican should be proud of its statues, it worked fucking hard to make them. And they cover it up for some Fundamentalist Bastard. If I was the pope, I'd give the guy a middle finger.

Dude. He went to Italy. Not to the Vatican City. It´s not the same.

[Nariterrr]

Fuck him. The vatican should be proud of its statues, it worked fucking hard to make them. And they cover it up for some Fundamentalist Bastard. If I was the pope, I'd give the guy a middle finger.

Dude. He went to Italy. Not to the Vatican City. It´s not the same.

Ohh. I misread, sorry .

[Geilinor]

Yes, but you do not expect them to change for you.

If a European leader went to Iran he would not demand Persian food not be served. Or that Iranian women remove their head covering.

There is a difference between not liking something and making demands.

And likewise, Rouhani evidently didn't actually demand anything of the Italian authorities. The Italians just acted preemptively out of an abundance of politeness - which is surely not such a bad thing.

It's a bad thing when you assume that he will be offended to see artwork because he's Muslim.

[Greater Reich]

Sounds like idiocy , it's just art.

Muslims consider art to be offensive.

I really hope you're joking.

[Liriena]

it was probably somebody in the Italian authorities going full retard on the political correctness.

Disregarding your use of the r-word, I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

[Baltenstein]

Disregarding your use of the r-word,

Dude, it's a well-known meme from the movie "Tropic Thunder".

I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

Yes, clearly not wanting to hide your own cultural legacy in shame is the equivalent of calling somebody a "damn dirty foreigner". Clearly.

[Italios]

it was probably somebody in the Italian authorities going full retard on the political correctness.

Disregarding your use of the r-word, I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

A wise diplomatic move that probably has helped avoid an awkward situation.

In most other circumstances, I wouldn't support covering art for others.

[Baltenstein]

Disregarding your use of the r-word, I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

A wise diplomatic move that probably has helped avoid an awkward situation.

Seeing how it has actually created an awkard situation that would have not appeared otherwise in the first place - not really.

A wise move would have been to not arrange the fucking meeting in the museum in the first place, if they consider Ruhani to be so ignorant about Italian art, which they apparently do.

[Tolko Temnota]

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.

Clearly this calls for cultural marxism

You aren't funny.

[Nariterrr]

A wise diplomatic move that probably has helped avoid an awkward situation.

Seeing how it has actually created an awkard situation that would have not appeared otherwise in the first place - not really.

A wise move would have been to not arrange the fucking meeting in the museum in the first place, if they consider Ruhani to be so ignorant about Italian art, which they apparently do.

That would be wise.

[Geilinor]

it was probably somebody in the Italian authorities going full retard on the political correctness.

Disregarding your use of the r-word, I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

If he feels uncomfortable in Rome, that would be his problem, not Rome's.

[Italios]

A wise diplomatic move that probably has helped avoid an awkward situation.

Seeing how it has actually created an awkard situation that would have not appeared otherwise in the first place - not really.

A wise move would have been to not arrange the fucking meeting in the museum in the first place, if they consider Ruhani to be so ignorant about Italian art, which they apparently do.

It's very possible that Ruhani would have spoke out about this and how it's disrespectful, insensitive to his culture, et cetera, et cetera, which would inevitably blossom into an even larger incident. Better to be safe than sorry. When one has company over, is it not customary to clean up your house a bit? This was basically the equivalent of that. If you want things to get done in a diplomatic visit, it'd be helpful to make the guests feel comfortable.

[Liriena]

Disregarding your use of the r-word,

Dude, it's a well-known meme from the movie "Tropic Thunder".

I'm well aware of that. It's still the r-word.

I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

Yes, clearly not wanting to hide your own cultural legacy in shame is the equivalent of calling somebody a "damn dirty foreigner". Clearly.

Thank goodness that's not what I said. Also, I'm pretty sure the Italians didn't "hide their own cultural legacy in shame". It's akin to saying that the Argentine government not serving beef to an Indian delegation is "hiding the Argentine cultural legacy in shame".

[Liriena]

Disregarding your use of the r-word, I'm going to go with nope. As others have said, I think it had more to do with, you know, actually trying to make a foreign leader feel comfortable during a diplomatic visit, because I'm pretty sure going all "screw your comfort, you damn dirty foreigner!" wouldn't get stuff done.

If he feels uncomfortable in Rome, that would be his problem, not Rome's.

Meh, it's just a diplomatic meeting thing, and I'm pretty sure Italy's cultural legacy will still be there whenever I return to get another taste of all that marble awesomeness.

[Baltenstein]

It's very possible that Ruhani would have spoke out about this and how it's disrespectful, insensitive to his culture, et cetera, et cetera, which would inevitably blossom into an even larger incident.

If he would have done that, he would have appeared to everybody as a pompous asshole. I'm sure Ruhani knows better than to give of the impression of a pompous asshole.

When one has company over, is it not customary to clean up your house a bit?

I would not hide away pictures of my family, because my guest doesn't want to see them, if that's what you're asking.

It's akin to saying that the Argentine government not serving beef to an Indian delegation is "hiding the Argentine cultural legacy in shame".

No, it's akin to hiding away the Argentinan flag because the Indian delegation thinks it's ugly.

Thank goodness that's not what I said. Also, I'm pretty sure the Italians didn't "hide their own cultural legacy in shame".

That's EXACTLY how it's being perceived in Italy right now. And contrary to taking credit for this "smart diplomatic move", all the relevant authorities in Italy are currently denying responsibiliy for the decision.

[Nariterrr]

No, it's akin to hiding away the Argentinan flag because the Indian delegation thinks it's ugly.

That happened?