On Tuesday, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission officially agreed to change the name of the library's main building to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, and revealed just how that name would be, if not shouted, then quietly yet firmly spoken to the world.
Yet here they were, acting silly in the nightly plays, asking questions in basic English and firmly not speaking Spanish, even though it was the easier option.
Succinctly, quietly, firmly, he spoke to the council and told them to stop requesting reports, stop making recommendations, stop discussing Sudan, and start acting.
An upside-down and partially charred American flag hung on the wall beside the speaker as he gripped a beer can firmly and spoke loudly.
When I taught at my first girls' leadership camp 15 years ago, I was sure that all girls needed to learn was how to make fierce eye contact, shake hands firmly and speak up.
"Twelve," I say, speaking firmly.
But when she was in front of the police or the military, he said, "se engrandec__ía" — she grew big — "speaking firmly, elevating her voice with strength.
Here was a black woman, obviously better prepared than her white opponents, speaking firmly and with full knowledge of her case.
Looking weary but speaking firmly, the 75-year-old president said he would issue a statement about the facts of the affair when the investigation was over.
But the countries of the West would be doing both themselves and the Russian people a favour by speaking firmly, with one voice, on human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the brutal war in Chechnya.
