One of President Obama's campaign promises was to improve our image abroad. His articulate and even-tempered nature was a drastic contrast to the past eight years, and I believe the world was ready for this new chapter of American foreign relations. However, the past week has proved to be embarrassing for the new President and his Secretary of Gift-Giving.
I know money is tight. I know we are all cutting back, possibly giving gifts from the heart. Homemade goodies, handwritten letters, or even the unspeakable, re-gifting. Apparently, the President is no exception! Prime Minister Gordon Brown came bearing gifts, when he met with President Obama for the first time late last week. Prime Minister Brown presented President Obama with a pen holder, "crafted from the timbers of the 19th century British warship HMS President (whose sister ship, HMS Resolute, provided the wood for the Oval Office's desk)". Clearly a unique and thoughtful gift. What did the bridge-building, relationship-mending, foreign relations master give in return? A DVD BOX SET! Not only does it pale in comparison, many in the UK found it offensive. Not only is Brown blind in one eye and will most likely have difficulty watching Wizard of Oz or Casablanca, the majority of American DVD's are incompatible with British DVD players! President Obama meets with the Queen of England next month, I'm wondering if he will present her with Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits!
And the gaffe giving doesn't end with President Obama. While visiting with the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton presented him with a red button. Not just any red button. One that resembles the end of the world buttons you see in movies, the one that no one should ever push. This red button had the English word "Reset" across it, followed by the Russian word, "peregruzka". This clever, yet cheap, gift was referring to Vice President Biden's call for the two countries to "press the reset button". What a great thought, if it wasn't lost in translation! Instead of saying "Reset", the Russian translation was "Overcharged". If one word could describe American right now, it would be "overcharged"!
How in the world will this help our image abroad? If there one person that needs to be fired is the Secretary of Gift Giving! This is hilarious and yet very embarrassing. So far the gaffe's have been made with our "allies". I hope we get it right by the time we meet with some of our "enemies!"
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