So the Live-8 concerts have come and gone, and the final day of the G8 summit is upon us. In light of the events in London this week, I sincerely hope all of the publicity of political leaders gathering together for singular efforts is not just one big puff of smoke blown up the world’s ass. But to be honest, politics and international affairs aren’t my cup of Earl Grey, so whatever happens, happens, and I accept that as things I cannot change.
Nevertheless, since it’s not healthy to be serious 24-7, I wanted to offer all of you hard-core political aficionados out there the following light hearted image for your amusement:
As the summit winds down each year, the representatives of the participating countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Russia) sneak away from the media, security and their translators to an underground room. It is there that they try to transcend the serious overtone that always overshadows their endeavors.
It is there that the 8 leaders dress up as pop culture icons and celebrate their collective wealth and power. Previous years’ themes have included dressing up as rainforest animals, ozone molecules, or the Village People. This year, the theme is vegetables. And what better representative of 8 vegetables than that wacky American beverage known as V-8?
So, like the similarly styled costumes of the Fruit of the Loom guys, the 8 world leaders don the costumes of the tomato, beet, celery, carrot, lettuce, parsley, watercress, and spinach. Then they join hands, dance in a circle for a little bit, toast a chilled shot of vodka, exchange high-fives, and depart for their home countries.
If things like this actually happened, the world may just be a better place than I think.