...then we might have heard this on the nightly news:
[Venezuelan President Hugo] Chavez called the United States the "most savage, cruel and murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world."
The Venezuelan leader said "socialism is the only path," and told the students the collective goal is to "save a world threatened by the voracity of US imperialism...."
More than 300 students from the United States shouted out their disapproval of US President George W Bush, chanting "Get out Bush!" Other students chanted: "Bush, fascist - you're a terrorist!"
UPDATE: Although this was not the subject of this posting, a couple of readers asked about my view of President Chavez's statement. Obviously it is a bit hyperbolic (history is long, and full of many savage and cruel empires), but it is no more hyperbolic than a litany of statements one hears every day in the media, though its perspective on U.S. conduct is fundamentally different. Imagine the discussion it might provoke if the "talking heads" were asked to explain what could prompt such remarks from the leader of another country, what the less-hyperbolic truth there is in such remarks, what conduct by the U.S. looms large elsewhere in the world, but is little-discussed here, and so on? One purpose served by a genuine diversity of perspectives isn't that they are all of equal merit, but rather that they stimulate critical reflection of a kind unknown in the media (and most of the blogosphere, needless to say) when all the hyperbole is self-serving.
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