Stephan G

"Leave you in my dust." and "I'll bury you."

There have been a couple of threads in which one's personal sense of humor is questioned by presenter and audience.

I am an immigrant that has come into the USA at the age of seven. My personal heritage spans from Eastern Mordvin through Ukraine through Eastern France into the final stop in the Midwest USA. When asked about my heritage, I reply "mongrel".

I was reminded of listening to Nikita Khrushchev's speech [https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-khrushchev-1959-quote-idUSKBN22N25D] from which the above line on the right came from. When I heard it, the statement was akin to the left statement, not the right. I spoke Russian fluently, hence comprehended what was being said. And reading the link, I find it sad that people succumb to the vagaries of idioms in languages.

"The swift boat is swift to the dock." Here is an example to consider. The first "swift" relates to speedy travel and the second "swift" relates to it being tied up and immobile. Language does make the difference.

And to use a phrase from my Ukrainian side, may you be kicked by a duck!

MSW

is this where Khrushchev bangs his shoe and says "we will bury you?"

language aside - shoe banging is just flat rude ... i don't spit into my host's soup, either.

Stephan G

Since you did not check the link I provided, here is a quote regarding the statement. The shoe incidence was later.

--Over the years, Khrushchev issued a number of explanations attempting to clarify his statements. One such instance occurred while speaking to the National Press Club in Washington on September 16, 1959:"'I have already said that the words ‘We will bury capitalism’ should not be taken literally, as is done by ordinary gravediggers who carry a spade and dig graves and bury the dead. What I had in mind was the outlook for the development of human society. Socialism will inevitably succeed capitalism.” --

The "Shoe Banging" is also addressed in the link.

I recall both instances, the speech and the report on the shoe event. I can say that no host's soup was damaged.

Side note: I am not a fan of Khrushchev, but I think if he was able to wrest the control from the Bolsheviks and push his ideals, we would not have Putin nor Trump issues now. The fall of the 'Iron Curtain' resulted from his efforts.

I vote that we turn back to the normal programming.

MSW

i once tried to explain to someone that this was an idiom, as in "we will kick your ass." it didn't work ... the kid was sure that the Soviets were digging a huge mass grave.

never underestimate the frightening power of stupid people in large numbers