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Home Front: Culture Wars
Schwarzenegger to Hometown: Kiss my... Remove My Name
2005-12-19
Heh heh - another Euro-American split
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday told officials in his hometown in Austria to remove his name from a sports stadium and stop using his identity to promote the city. The governor's request came after politicians in Graz began a petition drive to rename the stadium, reacting to Schwarzenegger's decision last week to deny clemency to condemned killer inmate Stanley Tookie Williams. Opposition to the death penalty is strong in Austria.

In a letter that began "Dear Mister Mayor," Schwarzenegger said he decided to spare the Graz city council "further concern" should he be forced to make other clemency decisions while he's governor. Another inmate is scheduled to be executed in California Jan. 17.
"Don't worry your little selves"
"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."

The stadium was renamed for the former Hollywood star in 1997. He asked that the lettering be removed by year's end.

Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said the letter was faxed Monday to the Graz city hall. The city council was expected to take up the matter next month.
I think that's not really necessary now, is it, you grandstanding assholes. Feeling morally superior?
In the letter, Schwarzenegger also said he would no longer permit the use of his name "to advertise or promote the city of Graz in any way" and would return the city's "ring of honor."

The ring was given to him in a ceremony in Graz in 1999. At the time, Schwarzenegger said he considered it "a token of sincere friendship between my hometown and me."

"Since, however, the official Graz appears to no longer accept me as one of their own, this ring has lost its meaning and value to me. It is already in the mail," the governor wrote.
"mailed third class, like the politicians of Graz"
Williams, unrepentant co-founder of the Crips gang, was convicted of four 1979 murders. He was executed shortly after midnight Dec. 13.
Posted by:Frank G

#8  AP...

The Austrians beat you to it...there is a group that is recommending just such a re-naming.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051213/ap_on_re_eu/europe_williams_execution_1

I would sign a petition, anything to help the Euro's become and even greater parody of themselves. How is THAT going to be explained on the tourist map of Graz?
Posted by: mjh   2005-12-19 22:30  

#7  Name me an Austrian politician who ignored law and made it up as he went along, hmmmmm.....

Posted by: Cretle Greresing4136   2005-12-19 22:16  

#6  For some reason I just can't be convinced that these moral phonies really give a rat's ass about the death penalty half a world away. But then I was always a cynical bloke.
Posted by: long memory   2005-12-19 22:06  

#5  Well, the Graz city council could always rename their beloved stadium in memory of Tookie Williams.
[/bad taste comment]
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-12-19 21:48  

#4  Wow! My respect for Arnold continues to grow.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2005-12-19 21:33  

#3  "this ring has lost its meaning and value to me"

That's gonna leave a mark.... :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-12-19 21:33  

#2  Arnie ain't one to threaten or insult. I suspect he was very proud of the role he played in the Williams execution.
Posted by: Besoeker   2005-12-19 21:33  

#1  His demise is greatly exaggerated IMO
Posted by: Frank G   2005-12-19 21:29  

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