What Interesting People These Americans Are …

In the name of interpersonal relations, (Americans) could learn a few things from us as well.


What Interesting People These Americans Are …
Sabah, Turkey
By SEVİLAY YÜKSELİR
Translated By Tyler Evans
11 February 2011
Edited by Jenette Axelrod

~snip~

Thanks to Istanbul's mayor, Kadir Topbas, I had the chance to meet this very interesting man the other day. I was also able to meet with Bloomberg's sister, Marjorie B. Tiven, who has a position working in the municipality as Bloomberg's right-hand assistant. She arranges all of his appointments and participates in meetings. Just think, if something like this ever happened in Turkey, there would be complete outrage. The opposition party would jump at the opportunity to accuse the mayor of running the city like his own family business. As a consequence, forget a family member being permitted to assist the mayor; they wouldn't even be allowed in city buildings!

~snip~

The end of the meeting, however, was witness to a strange incident that I would definitely like to share.

Before the photo-op, Bloomberg's sister, Marjorie Tiven, handed Topbas a gift basket with a silver apple, a symbol of New York. Mayor Bloomberg expressed his happiness at being able to offer this gift and added that he did not have to use public money to buy it because Tiffany and Co. was sponsoring the occasion. To tell you the truth, this announcement struck me as quite strange, probably because it clashes quite a bit with Turkish convention and custom.

Think about it — this is one of the wealthiest men in the world, who works for free just out of love for his city. Yet he isn't willing to reach into his pocket to pay for a $500 gift! I was so struck by this oddity that I brought it up that night in a conversation I had with William Wachtel, architect of New York's new taxi project and director of Karsan. I was really surprised by Wachel's response. He told me I shouldn't be surprised by Bloomberg's announcement. It was necessary because in the United States, public money can't be used to buy gifts of any kind — not even a plastic pen! He added that if anyone ever asked Bloomberg to donate his entire fortune to New York, he wouldn't hesitate. But he still won't pay for gifts out of pocket when receiving visitors. After all, Bloomberg is a world-renowned public figure. Not just mayors from other cities, but also prime ministers and presidents work very hard to get a meeting with Mr. Bloomberg. Wachtel finished by adding that, not to exaggerate too much, but Bloomberg's prestige is on the level of Obama's. For this reason, getting a meeting with Bloomberg and having the Turkish delegation received in New York is really remarkable for Istanbul.

There you have it. Americans really are very interesting. I'm sure we've still got quite a bit to learn from them. But I bet that in the name of interpersonal relations, they could learn a few things from us as well — don't you think?

oh, uh, sure.

why would he wait to be asked, since he just lurves new york so dearly? he could pay off nyc's entire deficit right now if he wanted to.

"When you shoot a king, make sure you kill him." Or I learned from a reporter that said he said that.

So been working on musical posts.

:D


Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNQRfBAzSzo

Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg8cDmi7-U8



Although I like some of the things he does, there are some issues there also. What else could I learn from him? Not much of what I want to learn, especially since his not giving of the beer and travel money that is due is part of the problems in many places.

:shrug:

:loveya:

(Double Tap. Draining the beer :) )

Queen-We Will Rock You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iikKzQwgBJc


I do know that as far as billionaires that change laws to stay in office, according to media, he is one of the better billionaires in how he thinks about governance on a few topics, not so great on a few others, but shrug, he still a billionaire, and there is no defense for that.

The most interesting thing, is it could be possible to side with him, how, because he has said things that are correct on topics, and things I agree with, but there are millions if not billions of people that would also agree with those things in factories, farm fields, and taverns all across the world, so why would I pick to side with him, just because he has a media outlet, :shrug: that doesn't make sense when he is a billionaire. Same with other billionaires.


Then again, he was responding to my posts years ago, and is aware of a few effects that have occurred, even effects to help the area he is in. He hasn't been able to get past the beer and travel issue thought. So still got him.