> Missile Counter-Attack. An Open Letter To US Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice
8 March 2005, 20:52
March has been named “Women’s Month” and most women around the world are celebrating International Women’s Day, to honor women of great accomplishments and women who have taken action to change their lives and the lives of those around them, by making a difference, enhancing their lives as well as the lives of others around them. So you have to imagine my shock at the statement made by Lloyd Axworthy, Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy to Eritrea and Ethiopia in his 3 March 2005 Open Letter to US Secretary of State Condileeza Rice in which he said:
“…I know it seems improbable to your divinely guided master in the White House that mere mortals might disagree with participating in a missile-defense system that has failed in its last three tests, even though the tests themselves were carefully rigged to show results…”
I am sure that Ms. Rice is more than capable of responding to the contents of his letter and will not presume to address MDS or any other issue he raises in his letter. I am appalled at his poor choice of words, his derogatory choice of words, as he addresses Ms. Rice. If not to insult and denigrate an otherwise very competent woman of color, why would Mr. Axworthy stoop so low as to refer to President Bush as her “divinely guided master”? If he is man enough to stand up to President Bush, why not address President Bush directly instead of trying to undermine Ms. Rice with his sexist and racist remarks?
His condescending and insulting letter is not very becoming of a seasoned diplomat and educator. If he is indeed speaking on behalf of Canadians, I’ll have to tell Mr. Axowrthy to clean up his own attitudes before attacking others on theirs.
I believe Mr. Axworthy owes Ms. Rice a public and open apology for insulting her in such a public way, through his Open Letter, for doing her job, much like the one he had a few years back when he served as Canada’s Foreign Minister.
March has been named “Women’s Month” and most women around the world are celebrating International Women’s Day, to honor women of great accomplishments and women who have taken action to change their lives and the lives of those around them, by making a difference, enhancing their lives as well as the lives of others around them. So you have to imagine my shock at the statement made by Lloyd Axworthy, Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy to Eritrea and Ethiopia in his 3 March 2005 Open Letter to US Secretary of State Condileeza Rice in which he said:
“…I know it seems improbable to your divinely guided master in the White House that mere mortals might disagree with participating in a missile-defense system that has failed in its last three tests, even though the tests themselves were carefully rigged to show results…”
I am sure that Ms. Rice is more than capable of responding to the contents of his letter and will not presume to address MDS or any other issue he raises in his letter. I am appalled at his poor choice of words, his derogatory choice of words, as he addresses Ms. Rice. If not to insult and denigrate an otherwise very competent woman of color, why would Mr. Axworthy stoop so low as to refer to President Bush as her “divinely guided master”? If he is man enough to stand up to President Bush, why not address President Bush directly instead of trying to undermine Ms. Rice with his sexist and racist remarks?
His condescending and insulting letter is not very becoming of a seasoned diplomat and educator. If he is indeed speaking on behalf of Canadians, I’ll have to tell Mr. Axowrthy to clean up his own attitudes before attacking others on theirs.
I believe Mr. Axworthy owes Ms. Rice a public and open apology for insulting her in such a public way, through his Open Letter, for doing her job, much like the one he had a few years back when he served as Canada’s Foreign Minister.
Sophia Tesfamariam