Ahmadinejad (sorry)
First Global Warming with Britney, now Ahmadinejad, This site is rapidly turning into a current events blog. I apologize for this, its really no wonder that I haven’t any readers. How many pages do you think mention Ahmadinejad, Britney Spears or both? (According to Google: 15.6m, 35.6m, and 1.8m respectively). What I should do is find some guy down the street who nobody knows and write an article about him.
However, like a motorist passing an accident, I feel compelled to comment on the Iran, U.S.A. show down/cage match and mud pit extravaganza. The latest media event has been the speech made by the Iranian president, Ahmadinejad, at Columbia U.
I don’t know what all the hubbub is about, its not like anyone went over time and had to be tasered. Ahmadinejad seems like a stand up guy. He smiles a lot, obviously possessed of an inner peace despite the crazy-train destination of his rhetoric.
I do have a few suggestions for him though, to help him obtain the proper impact with the audience.
I think the most important thing is to lose the smile. He has to give the impression that he talking about serious business. I mean he is the leader of a down trodden people. Here he is in the belly of the beast, the great satin U.S.A. with unveiled women in the audience and everything. He’s got to match the body language to the message.
Second, I like his use of hand gestures. He doesn’t flail about which would give the wrong impression, but selects a controlled gesture to punctuate the truly frightening think he is currently saying.
I really like his use of the fist but it needs to be held away from the body more, also he might consider the double fist, twice the power, or maybe the hand on hip with raised fist. 
Another good look is the crossed arms, especially if worn with a stern expression. It says, “fuck you” in big capital letters.
Third, the attire. He needs a proper uniform, or at least a power tie to go with the suit. The GAP casual wear, circa 1995, is a good look but it leaches power like a lightning rod. I would suggest he go with the best. Hugo Boss has a tradition of fine uniforms, they know how to work in browns and blacks too, which is really important for this application.
Forth, the sig-heil thing is done with the palm down. 
Borrowing symbols from the past can be a good thing and I like his initiative here, but you have to get the sign right, otherwise you risk confusing your fan base. Political rallies lose some of their menace if half the crowd is doing palm down and the other half palm left.
Here are some pictures of former leaders doing it right, notice the consistency of uniform and the body language that says, “I am going to seriously fuck up the entire world and I’ll tell YOU when play time is over!”
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Idi Amin, master of the “double-fist” |
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Benito does some hand on hip action. |
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Pinochet gives a good “fuck you” before sending out the death squads. |
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The master himself giving the “fuck you” |
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Chaplin during his homage to the master. |
And finally, as an example of what not to do. Whatever you do, DO NOT, strangle a kitten during your speech, dissident sure, but a kitten? NEVER!
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