President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, visiting the United Nations this week for the first time, intensified efforts on Wednesday to dispel suspicions about his country's intentions, asserting in a CNN interview that he condemned the Holocaust and that he bore "greetings to the people of America who are very dear and near to the hearts of the Iranian people".
This is Mt Kumgang, the fortified tourist compound where the hermit kingdom meets the Magic Kingdom, right down to Disneyesque guys in fuzzy bear suits greeting visitors.
He also noted that "cards that used to carry Christmas wishes now bear 'season's greetings"' and that "the local school nativity play is watered down or disappears altogether".
When working a crowd, Velázquez is impressive – pulling in friends and associates for back-slapping bear hugs, and greeting the public with warm handshakes.
"Hitler is often depicted in a 'cutesy' manner as a teddy bear, on a Valentine greeting card, or even as Mickey Mouse," she says.
These are the shrines to the dead and missing: the collections of candles in paper cups, teddy bears, store-bought greeting cards and photos of relatives or friends lovingly preserved from the elements in plastic wrap.
Even if you already just saw them 15 minutes before, everyone still feels the greeting bears repeating.
But when it's Shane MacGowan barking out: "I'm a self-confessed certified lunatic" by way of greeting, you should bear in mind that he's the exception to the rule.
Fiona MacCarthy writes: Denys was in ebullient mood, greeting his friends with bear hugs, when I saw him last month at the opening of the British Museum great court.
But he lost none of his Russianness, greeting friends with a massive bear hug.
