Don’t Mispronounce It!
June 10th, 2007This reminds me of a hilarious cartoon I saw the other day where Bush is delivering a speech and his handlers are watching, whispering, “Don’t mispronounce it, don’t mispronounce it, don’t mispronounce it” to themselves. The word? “Niger.”
US President George W Bush drew gasps at the Vatican on Saturday by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as “sir” instead of the expected “His Holiness”, pool reporters said. They could clearly hear the US leader say “Yes, sir” when the pope asked him if he was going to meet with officials of the lay Catholic Sant’Egidio community at the US embassy later during his visit. A handful of pool reporters were on hand as Benedict greeted Bush at the door of his private library ahead of a private audience of about half an hour.
On his way to see the 80-year-old pontiff, the US leader apparently recognised someone he knew, and could be heard greeting the person with a casual “How ya doin’?” The pool reporters also noted Bush’s relaxed posture, crossing his legs “Texan style” while facing the pope across his desk in the private study of the apostolic palace.
I’m not sure I understand what the big deal is. “Sir” is respectful and besides, I’ve always hated people who get uppity over their title, like doctors who go nuts if you don’t call them doctor. I do think it was disrespectful and flippant for Bush to sit there crossing his legs casually and the “How ya doin’?” might be a little inappropos but it isn’t that big a deal, either.
It’s not like he called him Poopy Benedict or something and with George Bush, that might be all you can ask for.