For two centuries, the upper classes of Europe -- and eventually wealthy Americans -- engaged in a requisite journey to the great capitals of the continent. This was known as “The Grand Tour.” The goal was to imbue the traveler with a respect for history and the cultural achievements of previous civilizations. It was a test of one’s social graces.
How did President Obama do on his Grand Tour? Here are some media markers.
A reporter in the Netherlands likened the reception Obama received to the way Gorbachev was initially -- enthusiastically -- welcomed by the Warsaw Pact countries in the late 80’s. The BBC surprisingly probed “Beyond the Obama Magic.” The German publication, der Spiegel, observed that the visit did not portend a new world order. A French pundit, referred to Obama’s desire to end nuclear proliferation as naïve “theology.” And Turkish TV News anchor Gokhan Taskin -- known as “the Glenn Beck of Turkey” -- created quite an uproar when he delivered a message to Obama in black-face make-up. Translated from Turkish, what Taskin said was: “Welcome Mr. Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. We appreciate your kindness. We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now we ask the same of you.” Not exactly incendiary satire.
Here is some other news you might have missed.
Mr. Obama’s surprise visit to Baghdad was the equivalent of dropping by for a quick cup of tea and a photo op. He underscored his desire to have US troops leave as soon as possible so the US could turn things over the Iraqis. What didn’t get much attention from the US media was a plea from the Archbishop of Kirkuk, Louis Sako. He wants the troops to stay because their departure puts Iraqi Christians at increased risk. Five have been murdered in the last month alone. Sako believes that once the US withdraws, Iraq will disintegrate into violence and possible civil war because “ethnic and religious groups have not become truly reconciled and the security situation remains fragile."
A Chaldean Catholic Bishop in Mosul explained that members of the Christian community are being targeted by organized crime groups because of the wealth they have created -- “built up in a lifetime of toil and sweat” -- through their commercial enterprises. Sounds vaguely familiar.
In the past, he explained, "these thugs were covered and protected by al-Qaeda, but now that the ideological and confessional element is disappearing, ordinary criminals and organized crime [groups] are rearing their head, drawn by money, ready to kill in cold blood." Sounds sort of like Somali pirates.
One presumes that the Archbishop did not hear President Obama tell an audience in Turkey that America is no longer just a Christian nation, a comment Obama first tested out on the campaign trail to mixed reviews. To deliver that statement in a Muslim country during Holy Week struck some Christians as insensitive at best. Domestic news stories about the Obamas’ scramble to find a church to attend on Easter Sunday, and the unprecedented hosting of a Passover Seder at The White House, helped reinforce the idea that the President is “interfaith,” and therefore perhaps not inclined to worry unduly about the death toll of his policies on Iraqi Christians.
The US media also fast forwarded through footage of the anti-American demonstrations mounted in Turkey. They did not coincide with the idea that once George Bush was gone, all anti-American sentiments would vanish. Not so. There were huge protests against his visit in many Turkish cities. And leave it to Al Jazeera to remind us that Bill Clinton was the first US President to address the Turkish Parliament, in 1996. No precedent breaker there for Obama.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, an Armenian-American group which had helped elect Obama was upset with him for not taking a more forceful position on the Armenian genocide, committed by the Turks during World War I. Even National Public Radio host, Scott Simon, opined that it was insufficient to label the deaths of 1.5 million people as just “killings.” Apparently Obama enlisted the assistance of Swiss negotiators to help resolve this thorny issue. Having the parties come to terms with this tragic history is a hurdle which must be cleared before Turkey can be accepted into the European Union.
Here the President of France makes one of his many appearances in the historical record of Obama’s Grand Tour. Nicholas Sarkozy does not want the EU to embrace Turkey. Period. Although Sarko threatened (but did not) boycott the G-20 meeting, he is not kidding about blocking Turkey’s entrance into the EU. He as much as told Obama to “fergettaboutit.” For a start, Sarkozy can do the math. Since Turkey is a Muslim nation -- albeit allegedly “secular” -- the fact is that once Turkish residents are added into the EU, the European Union will become 10% Muslim. It would give meaning to the old adage about why one should not allow the camel to get his nose under your tent flap. The rest of the camel will soon follow.
Sarkozy was also none too pleased that the exquisite town of Strasbourg was hit by anti-NATO protests while -- just across the bridge on the German side of the border -- things remained calm. Perhaps this explains why he chose to send in special operations troops and risk a rescue of French tourists when they were held hostage by Somali pirates. One hostage was killed, as were all but one of the pirates, and you can bet his trial will become a major media event in France. The object was that Sarko took action while Obama and Hillary Clinton were pictured meeting at the picnic table next to the new swing set in the White House grounds. Point -- Counterpoint.
Winding back to the beginning, there has been much made of the IPod which the President gave the Queen. What does it say about a man who calls his country “arrogant,” after he has just given the Queen of England audio copies of his best and most memorable speeches? She has seen eleven US Presidents come and go and none did anything quite so tacky. Even worse -- Obama returned a special gift -- loaned by the British Empire to The White House after 9-11. It was a bronze bust of Winston Churchill worth hundreds of thousands of British pounds. Although he was told the White House was welcome to hold on to it, Obama flew Winston back to England. Here’s the beef. When Churchill was in power, Britain suppressed the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya, birthplace of Mr. Obama’s father. The President’s grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, is thought to have been among those tortured by British colonial forces.
The problem is protocol. When Michelle Obama spontaneously gave the Queen a wee backrub during the G-20 reception at Buckingham Palace, the joke was that “even Prince Philip doesn’t get to do that.” Returning the prized bust, even if it was to settle an old family score, was done in such a way that the press had a heads-up. But why?
Discretion is often the better part of diplomacy, which one hopes is what Mr. Obama has now learned after his “Grand Tour.” It’s a dubious hope.
How did President Obama do on his Grand Tour? Here are some media markers.
A reporter in the Netherlands likened the reception Obama received to the way Gorbachev was initially -- enthusiastically -- welcomed by the Warsaw Pact countries in the late 80’s. The BBC surprisingly probed “Beyond the Obama Magic.” The German publication, der Spiegel, observed that the visit did not portend a new world order. A French pundit, referred to Obama’s desire to end nuclear proliferation as naïve “theology.” And Turkish TV News anchor Gokhan Taskin -- known as “the Glenn Beck of Turkey” -- created quite an uproar when he delivered a message to Obama in black-face make-up. Translated from Turkish, what Taskin said was: “Welcome Mr. Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. We appreciate your kindness. We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now we ask the same of you.” Not exactly incendiary satire.
Here is some other news you might have missed.
Mr. Obama’s surprise visit to Baghdad was the equivalent of dropping by for a quick cup of tea and a photo op. He underscored his desire to have US troops leave as soon as possible so the US could turn things over the Iraqis. What didn’t get much attention from the US media was a plea from the Archbishop of Kirkuk, Louis Sako. He wants the troops to stay because their departure puts Iraqi Christians at increased risk. Five have been murdered in the last month alone. Sako believes that once the US withdraws, Iraq will disintegrate into violence and possible civil war because “ethnic and religious groups have not become truly reconciled and the security situation remains fragile."
A Chaldean Catholic Bishop in Mosul explained that members of the Christian community are being targeted by organized crime groups because of the wealth they have created -- “built up in a lifetime of toil and sweat” -- through their commercial enterprises. Sounds vaguely familiar.
In the past, he explained, "these thugs were covered and protected by al-Qaeda, but now that the ideological and confessional element is disappearing, ordinary criminals and organized crime [groups] are rearing their head, drawn by money, ready to kill in cold blood." Sounds sort of like Somali pirates.
One presumes that the Archbishop did not hear President Obama tell an audience in Turkey that America is no longer just a Christian nation, a comment Obama first tested out on the campaign trail to mixed reviews. To deliver that statement in a Muslim country during Holy Week struck some Christians as insensitive at best. Domestic news stories about the Obamas’ scramble to find a church to attend on Easter Sunday, and the unprecedented hosting of a Passover Seder at The White House, helped reinforce the idea that the President is “interfaith,” and therefore perhaps not inclined to worry unduly about the death toll of his policies on Iraqi Christians.
The US media also fast forwarded through footage of the anti-American demonstrations mounted in Turkey. They did not coincide with the idea that once George Bush was gone, all anti-American sentiments would vanish. Not so. There were huge protests against his visit in many Turkish cities. And leave it to Al Jazeera to remind us that Bill Clinton was the first US President to address the Turkish Parliament, in 1996. No precedent breaker there for Obama.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, an Armenian-American group which had helped elect Obama was upset with him for not taking a more forceful position on the Armenian genocide, committed by the Turks during World War I. Even National Public Radio host, Scott Simon, opined that it was insufficient to label the deaths of 1.5 million people as just “killings.” Apparently Obama enlisted the assistance of Swiss negotiators to help resolve this thorny issue. Having the parties come to terms with this tragic history is a hurdle which must be cleared before Turkey can be accepted into the European Union.
Here the President of France makes one of his many appearances in the historical record of Obama’s Grand Tour. Nicholas Sarkozy does not want the EU to embrace Turkey. Period. Although Sarko threatened (but did not) boycott the G-20 meeting, he is not kidding about blocking Turkey’s entrance into the EU. He as much as told Obama to “fergettaboutit.” For a start, Sarkozy can do the math. Since Turkey is a Muslim nation -- albeit allegedly “secular” -- the fact is that once Turkish residents are added into the EU, the European Union will become 10% Muslim. It would give meaning to the old adage about why one should not allow the camel to get his nose under your tent flap. The rest of the camel will soon follow.
Sarkozy was also none too pleased that the exquisite town of Strasbourg was hit by anti-NATO protests while -- just across the bridge on the German side of the border -- things remained calm. Perhaps this explains why he chose to send in special operations troops and risk a rescue of French tourists when they were held hostage by Somali pirates. One hostage was killed, as were all but one of the pirates, and you can bet his trial will become a major media event in France. The object was that Sarko took action while Obama and Hillary Clinton were pictured meeting at the picnic table next to the new swing set in the White House grounds. Point -- Counterpoint.
Winding back to the beginning, there has been much made of the IPod which the President gave the Queen. What does it say about a man who calls his country “arrogant,” after he has just given the Queen of England audio copies of his best and most memorable speeches? She has seen eleven US Presidents come and go and none did anything quite so tacky. Even worse -- Obama returned a special gift -- loaned by the British Empire to The White House after 9-11. It was a bronze bust of Winston Churchill worth hundreds of thousands of British pounds. Although he was told the White House was welcome to hold on to it, Obama flew Winston back to England. Here’s the beef. When Churchill was in power, Britain suppressed the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya, birthplace of Mr. Obama’s father. The President’s grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, is thought to have been among those tortured by British colonial forces.
The problem is protocol. When Michelle Obama spontaneously gave the Queen a wee backrub during the G-20 reception at Buckingham Palace, the joke was that “even Prince Philip doesn’t get to do that.” Returning the prized bust, even if it was to settle an old family score, was done in such a way that the press had a heads-up. But why?
Discretion is often the better part of diplomacy, which one hopes is what Mr. Obama has now learned after his “Grand Tour.” It’s a dubious hope.
Mrs. Easton is the European Correspondent for Human Events. She holds an MA in Theology and Religious Studies.
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