Schwarzenegger to Graz, Austria : Drop Dead
Well, he didn't say that. But he did break ties with the city of his birth.
The Gov. has asked the city of Graz, Austria to remove his name from that city's sports stadium. There had been a movement in that city to change the name due to anger at Arnold's refusal to commute the death sentance of murderer and gang leader Tookie Williams.
Arnold was born and raised in Graz. It was a great honor when this major stadium was named after him in 1997.
I believe Arnold when he says that the decision not to commute was difficult. It also must have been difficult to ask them to take his name off the stadium.
In a letter addressed to " Dear Mr. Mayor " he said " "In all likelihood, during my term as governor, I will have to make similar and equally difficult decisions," Schwarzenegger said in the letter. "To spare the responsible politicians of the city of Graz further concern, I withdraw from them as of this day the right to use my name in association with the Liebenauer Stadium." He asked for the lettering to be taken down by years end.
The city had given him a " ring of honor " which is being returned. " It is already in the mail the letter said.
I respect this Governor, I think he is a man of principle. He's had a rough patch lately, with the voters of California turning down four initiatives that he supported. His poll numbers are down. And if you don't think that the recent clemency decision was tough on him, you're nuts.
And now the city of his birth, which had honored him so profusely was perhaps on the way to undoing the honor. They'll never do it now. He's beaten them to the punch, with an irrevocable act. And it's Austria's loss.
Graz is Austria's second largest city, with a population of 250,000.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadion Graz Liebenau
nothing to do with arnie (even though i think because of the steriods should nt have had it any way)i heard the actor who played cash on the country channel the other day with reese singing i thought they were miming because he had a uncanny resemblance to johnny cash was wondering if you thought so .or is it because he sang deep.
Posted by
William |
December 19, 2005 11:04 PM
I completely agree. He, and Reese, were wonderful.
He does have a physical resemblance to Cash with the big face and body, and ways of movement. The deep voice didn't hurt. He was just great.
Posted by
The Phantom |
December 19, 2005 11:28 PM
Hias
Thank you. I will make the correction. And welcome to the Austrian visitors who I have noticed in the past two days.
I feel sad about this, and I agree with your comment.
Posted by
The Phantom |
December 21, 2005 11:21 AM
I really have a difficult time to understand the Austrians, Styrians etc..
Arnold emigrated I believe in 1968 to the USA, the same year I emigrated to Toronto, Canada from Styria.
California has 4 times the populations of Austria, never mind the size of the State.
The only bad thing I can see that Williams had to wait 24 years to be executed and was living on Taxpayers money. He was a convicted Killer and co-founder of one of the most notorious street gangs in LA.
It is of no business OF ANY Austrian politician’s even to comment on Arnold’s decision. He just followed the law.
But on the other hand as Sigmund Freud put it so eloquently about the Austrians – The Austrians have a horizon only to next mountain range.
Posted by
Anonymous |
December 21, 2005 1:30 PM
The hills are ALIVE. If the hills were dead, the Austrians would probably feel differently.
Haven't seen the Cash movie yet, but I thought that I had heard that Cash himself had encouraged Phoenix to do his own singing.
Posted by
Ontario Emperor |
December 21, 2005 5:09 PM