I woke up this morning with the television on, CNN I believe. Obama was addressing a mix of young french and german men and women at a remarkable event he created at a basketball arena in Strasbourg, a campaign-style "town hall" in which he fielded questions.
This European trip is bringing out the best in both Barack and Michelle. Please watch the youtube clip below.
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Associated Press
STRASBOURG, France - Welcomed here with thunderous cheers, President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to repair damaged relations with Europe, saying the world came together following the 2001 terrorist attacks but then "we got sidetracked by Iraq."
Obama:"We must be honest with ourselves. In recent years, we've allowed our alliance to drift. There have been times where America's shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive {toward Europe}".
"In Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans chose to blame America for much of what's bad. Both of these attitudes do not represent the truth. America is changing, but it cannot be America alone that changes."
YouTube - Obama Holds Town Hall In Strasbourg, France
I'm a sucker for quirky little details: "Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, welcomed the Obamas at the majestic 18th-century Rohan Palace in Strasbourg."
lps9104 - Fotosearch Stock Photography
"It used to be when I came to Europe that I could just wander down to a cafe and sit and have some wine and watch people go by. And go into a little shop and watch the sun do down. Now I'm in hotel rooms all the time, and I have security around me all the time. And so just, you know, losing that ability to just take a walk, you know, that is something that is frustrating."
This European trip is bringing out the best in both Barack and Michelle. Please watch the youtube clip below.
--------------------
Associated Press
STRASBOURG, France - Welcomed here with thunderous cheers, President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to repair damaged relations with Europe, saying the world came together following the 2001 terrorist attacks but then "we got sidetracked by Iraq."
Obama:"We must be honest with ourselves. In recent years, we've allowed our alliance to drift. There have been times where America's shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive {toward Europe}".
"In Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans chose to blame America for much of what's bad. Both of these attitudes do not represent the truth. America is changing, but it cannot be America alone that changes."
YouTube - Obama Holds Town Hall In Strasbourg, France
I'm a sucker for quirky little details: "Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, welcomed the Obamas at the majestic 18th-century Rohan Palace in Strasbourg."
lps9104 - Fotosearch Stock Photography
"It used to be when I came to Europe that I could just wander down to a cafe and sit and have some wine and watch people go by. And go into a little shop and watch the sun do down. Now I'm in hotel rooms all the time, and I have security around me all the time. And so just, you know, losing that ability to just take a walk, you know, that is something that is frustrating."