I do not understand why these lame threads do not get moved to MPSIMS.
Bush’s usage of the ‘awesome’ just shows how out of touch he is. The word is only used these days as slang by young people. Most dictionaries would still define the word as -impressive or overwhelming as to inspire a strong feeling of admiration - for at least one meaning of the word.
Has anyone other than the OP, Cynicalgabe, and myself actually watched the clip? Has anyone other than myself actually watched the Pope’s speech? Or is this standard Bush-bashing for which the SDMB is sadly infamous? Bush simply says, “Thank you, your Holiness, awesome speech” and it happenned to be caught by the microphone. It was not a formal thank you.
Benedict isn’t as good a speaker as John Paul II, and he’s not helped by his Germanic accent. I didn’t think it that great a speech, but it had some depth and his speechwriters had done their research. I think it will read better than it sounds.
I defy any person to watch the video and try to honestly claim that Bush is using the term in the religious sense meaning inspiring awe. He is clearly using “awesome” in its slang sense meaning outstanding.
Having listened to the speech I tend to agree but I’m not sure. I’d need to read the text. Benedict made repeated references to America’s history of which it can be rightly proud of doing the right thing defending freedom, from George Washington onwards, and it’s just possible that Bush was referring to that.
Anyone got a link to the text?
I was not saying he was using it in a religious sense. Try looking up a dictionary.
The link still does not work anyway.
As I said it just shows out of touch he is. Please could you justify why this is in the pit and not in MPSIMS.
Maybe because it’s critical of GB and will likely end up here anyway?
Sorry, I did not mean to quote you. I thought I hit the other reply button.
The link works fine for me.
I cannot justify putting this in the pit, but I cannot justify putting it in MPSIMS, either.
I watched the video when I first posted. I’m sure he meant it as “hey, great job.”
I still can’t see any reason to Pit him for it.
Here is the BBC video of the event. It’s rather fuller and shows Bush making a rather good introductory speech.
Yeah, much as I hate Bush and his constant malapropisms, this barely even pings my radar. Possibly, it’s because I’m Californian, and out here “awesome” is considered formal speech.
Yeah, when we want to be informal we usually say something like:
that was soooooooo totally awesome.
Thanks, Bricker, ya made me laugh.
Here’s a link to the text of the speech.
A very well thought one, specifically to the just causes the USA represents. I can’t figure out why Bush’s speechwriters fell down on this one. It would be a perfect opportunity to expand upon what the Pope said, and voice all the points that make this country great. A very simple echoing of the grace the Pope was voicing about the US. (I’m not Catholic, so no agenda here). So, why just the lackluster,and simple response by the President? I would think that a couple of paragraphs to echo the sentiment of the Pope would be, at least, polite, if not wanting a good political opportunity, in the game sense.
What am I missing here?
“Hey, Pope! Awesome speech, broseph!”
Sigh
OK, glad he didn’t say “Awesome, Boyz in Da Hood!”
Christ.
How about “Hey, Your Holiness - that speech was sweeter than an altar boy’s cherry!”
Regards.
Shodan
“Whoa… like, far out, Jesus man! Groovy!”
(I don’t think it was intended for public consumption. And wouldn’t you want to be able to say “awesome speech” to the Pope?)
*Eewwwwww!*some, dude.
If he were going for original meanings, he could have told him it was an “'awful” speech - which once meant the same as awesome.
Colibri, would that but a simple E be twixt amazement and horror.
Gently told.
Not that it made me particularly angry, but I did have a, “No, he couldn’t have,” moment. It’s the pope, fer cryin’ out loud! Bush always did have that deft touch with foreign dignitaries…