One thing you CANNOT say about Memphis is that it doesn’t have a sense of humor about politics. Especially mayoral politics. Remember, this is a town that has not one, but TWO, mayors (one for the city and another for the county). We also had the same Memphis City Mayor, Willie Herenton, for five consecutive terms (that’s 18 years). Herenton resigned a couple of months ago from the office, only to announce 90 days later that he would be running in the election to find his replacement. So, it takes a lot to surprise us in the world of mayoral politics.
But the hits just keep on coming!
Yesterday, the Dalai Lama arrived in Memphis to receive his “Freedom Award” from the National Civil Rights Museum. He was met by Memphis City Mayor-Pro-Tem Myron Lowery and Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton. In case there was any doubt, welcoming a spritiual leader on the order of the Dalai Lama is a big deal for any city. I mean, it’s such a big deal that one can easily imagine civic leaders thinking long and hard about what they might say and how they might act when the moment arrives. I bet our two mayors stayed up all night thinking about it.
Mayor Lowery opted to color the event with a little local flavor. Local flavor in the form of a fist-bump and a double-entendre reference to Carol Channing’s old Broadway role. But, alas, this is one of those things you just have to see for yourself:
It is a beautiful welcome.
Ahaha – did all of Memphis collectively smack its forehead like when your dad makes a really embarrassing corny joke in front of your friends?
i love this.
i'm not fb'ing really for now, so keep in touch via blogs, eh? send comments through mind, i'll send comments through yours. i'm happy to be in contact and know how you're doing. you're excellent.
Haha! I love it! Absolutely hilarious. The dad analogy is a good one….
Damn stupid southerners. I can't believe they did that to the Lama. Nobody fistpumps the Lama.
Of course, in Philadelphia they might have forced him to attend an Eagles game.