Honoring our relationship with the U.K.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Honoring our relationship with the U.K.
15
Thu, 03-05-2009 - 5:37pm

The U.S. has a special relationship with the United Kingdom. Often when leaders of the two countries first meet, they exchange symbols of the ties that hold us together.

When Prime Minister Brown came to visit, he brought thoughtful presents, gifts which were specific to our President and to our two countries relationship.

Unfortunately President Obama seems to have clicked off $100 of stuff from Amazon or Blockbuster to provide in return.

As a U.S. citizen, I apologize for the thoughtlessness of our President. This is a national disgrace to many of us.

These 25 SD DVDs may not even play on U.K. video systems. :(

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/Just-wanted-Barack-Obamas-blockbuster-gift-25-DVDs-Brown-reaffirm-special-relationship.html

Obama's blockbuster gift for Brown to reaffirm the 'special relationship': 25 DVDs

He had put clearly great thought into giving the U.S. President lavish gifts to signify Britain's 'special relationship' with the U.S.

During his historic trip to Washington, Gordon Brown gave Barack Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet - once called HMS President.

The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that already takes place in the Oval Office in the White House, after being presented by Britain to the US in 1880.

The Prime Minister went to the trouble of hunting down the perfect gift after becoming the first European leader invited to the White House by the new Commander In Chief.

So it would be perfectly understandable if Mr Brown felt a little underwhelmed at the official gift he received in return.

For despite being leader of the world's most bountiful nation, President Obama handed over nothing more thought-provoking than 25 classic American films on DVD.

It was the equivalent of receiving a pair of socks from an unfamiliar aunt at Christmas - and a less-than-glowing affirmation of the UK-US bond.

Despite being a 'special collector's box set', any film buff could have picked up the movies from their local video store for just £250.

It is not clear what the Prime Minister - not believed to a great fan of cinema - thought about receiving the films.

Downing Street yesterday THURS refused even to state which movies were in the box set - perhaps a reflection of their embarrassment that the gift was less generous than the ones taken to Washington by the Prime Minister.

But the Mail understands the gift included Hollywood blockbusters such as Star Wars, The Godfather and Orson Welles' ground-breaking flick Citizen Kane.

Perhaps pertinently given Britain is floundering in an economic slump, the DVD collection was thought to feature the movie of John Steinbeck's Great Depression novel, 'The Grapes Of Wrath'.

It also included the Oscar-winning boxing biopic 'Raging Bull' starring Robert Di Nero and Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Psycho - maybe a comment on the PM's notorious short fuse?

And he will hope that at a General Election the British public do not shun his imploration for another term in office by thinking at the ballot box of the famous line from another of the movies, Casblanca: 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.'

But following Mr Brown's his recent troubles - the UK entering recession, soaring job losses and home repossessions, Labour struggling in the polls and threats of leadership challenges - he may be pleased at being able to settle down for a quiet night in front of the ultimate feel-good movie: It's A Wonderful Life.

Number 10 was staying silent about the gift, but the Mail has learned the American Film Institute produced a box set of 25 top U.S. movies as a "special request" for the White House last month.

Mr Brown also took to Washington a framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to mark Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria.

He also gave a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.

Mr Brown and his wife also showered gifts on the Obama children giving Sasha and Malia an outfit each from Topshop and six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America.

In return, the Obamas gave the Browns two models of the presidential helicopter, Marine One, to take home to sons Fraser and John.

The Prime Minister has not had the best of luck when receiving gifts from U.S. presidents.

He was given a fur-trimmed brown leather bomber jacket by George W. Bush during first trip to America in summer 2007.

Emblazoned with the presidential seal and the logo of Camp David, it also boasted a black patch bearing the name 'Rt Hon Gordon Brown'.

Commentators gleefully pointed out that the garment was hardly in keeping with Mr Brown's usual sober attire of business suit and tie.

Not surprisingly, it later emerged that the PM had decided not to keep the gift. Instead, he gave it to charity.
Movies in the box-set produced for the White House by the American Film Institute:

1. Citizen Kane

2. The Godfather

3. Casablanca

4. Raging Bull

5. Singing In The Rain

6. Gone With The Wind

7. Lawrence Of Arabia

8. Schindler's List

9. Vertigo

10. The Wizard Of Oz

11. City Lights

12. The Searchers

13. Star Wars: Episode IV

14. Psycho

15. 2001: A Space Odyssey

16. Sunset Boulevard

17. The Graduate

18. The General

19. On The waterfront

20. It's A Wonderful Life

21. China Town

22. Some Like It Hot

23. The Grapes Of Wrath

24. ET: The Extra Terrestrial

25. To Kill A Mocking Bird.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Fri, 03-06-2009 - 2:23pm

A brit wrote the following, but it was taken down by management. Fortunately a back up was made before the retraction.

http://asinthedaysofnoah.blogspot.com/2009/03/obama-rude-to-uk-but-wants-to-meet.html

A bit of regal glamour is quick to woo Barack Obama

President Obama has been rudeness personified towards Britain this week. His handling of the visit of the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to Washington was appalling.

First Brown wasn't granted a press conference with flags, then one was hastily arranged in the Oval office after the Brits had to beg.

Obama looked like he would rather have been anywhere else than welcoming the British leader to his office and topped it all with his choice of present (*) for the PM. A box of 25 DVDS including ET, the Wizard of Oz and Star Wars?

Oh, give me strength. We do have television and DVD stores on this side of the Atlantic. Even Gordon Brown will have seen those films too often already.

This was coupled with Michelle Obama's casual choice of gifts for the Brown sons-matching models of the helicopter which ferry her husband around.

While Sarah Brown had spent time choosing gifts for the Obama girls, Michelle had clearly sent an aide to the White House gift shop at the last moment.

All in all, he doesn't think much of us, as I explained in my post here earlier this week.

But what's this? Something, suddenly, seems to have made the Obama White House perk up and start to take an interest in the Brits.

The Queen has invited the President to tea when he's here for the G20 in April. And he's in through the front door of Buckingham Palace faster than a Harley Davidson roaring along Route 66.

Note how the coolness of Team Obama disappears when a bit of regal glamour is introduced into the equation.

He might not like the Brits, but he can recognise a global superstar when he encounters one.

He wants to be associated with her. He's shameless.(*)

If Obama, or someone in his inner circle, had spent two minutes thinking about what present to get Brown then they could easily have come up with something appropriate.

He likes books. He loves American history. Get him a signed first edition of a good Robert Dallek book such as the brilliant Flawed Giant on LBJ.

Come to think of it, Obama should read it too, if he hasn't yet, as it reveals a great deal about how a Presidency can go so wrong.

Posted by Ian Martin

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/iain_martin/blog/2009/03/06/president_barack_obama_dislikes_britain_but_hes_keen_to_meet_the_queen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Fri, 03-06-2009 - 2:41pm

I like this comment.......

>"What happened to the "stiff upper lip"? All this whining about toys and presents?"<

I DO think Obama has more important things on his mind.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Fri, 03-06-2009 - 8:19pm

I searched, and don't find the "stiff upper lip" comment in the story.

It seems to me that crass behavior toward a foreign leader is never a good idea is never helpful.




Edited 3/6/2009 8:36 pm ET by postreply
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2009
Sat, 03-07-2009 - 12:51am

~A brit wrote the following, but it was taken down by management. Fortunately a back up was made before the retraction.~


Do you have a link to the retraction?


I'm asking because it's still up on The Daily Telegraph site.


~Posted by Ian Martin~


Actually, the person who wrote it is "Iain Martin".

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Sat, 03-07-2009 - 6:31am
It was a comment under under the article of the link you posted.

 


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