Animal Farm
This has no relevance to East Asia at all, but having just read Mike Davis’ fascinating analysis of the US mid-term elections of last November, I was struck by the American liking for mammalian metaphors in political life (the two parties have a donkey and an elephant as their symbols for god’s sake). Thus the rabidly rightwing faction of the Democrats are the ‘blue dogs‘ while the Washington lobbyists become ‘winged monkeys‘ (a reference to The Wizard of Oz).
Actually, I sometimes think Mike Davis would be worth reading solely for his colourful way with words. Some choice phrases: Kissinger is the “chief mummy”; John Kerry is the “Brahmin Rambo”; while the “winged monkeys are reputedly rejoicing at their recent liberation from DeLay, the wicked witch of Texas”.
Psst… Mike Davis link is wrong - you get a (probably very interesting) 1996 NLR article.
Comment by Meaders — March 28, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Cheers - sorted.
Comment by kotaji — March 28, 2007 @ 10:22 am