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Published: April 2nd 2009
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For those of who you doubted I really had a ticket!!!! Andrew!!!!!!
Well, tomorrow, I get to go to a Town Hall meeting here in Strasbourg, France hosted by the President of the United States of America. Incredible. Talk about lucky!! Well, I have to be at Cine Cite to catch a bus which will take us all to the Rhenus Sports Hall. I have never been there. I guess we then sit around for 2.5 hours until the action starts.
I feel like a cross between Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button. It would really be cool if I got to ask a question....well, we shall see what happens..
Well, now the day has come and gone.
The meeting place was at Cine Cite. That is a really big movie complex about a 35 minute walk form my apartment. I had to be there around 9:30 or so. I woke up, took shower, brushed teeth and I was on my way. Of course, you knew it would not be that easy. As I got to he river to pass into the center of Strasbourg, thee was a
Checkpoint Charlie type barricade with all kinds of soldiers and police around. It seemed as though no one was being allowed to pass. UHOH... That is the fastest way to the meeting point and I am running a touch behind. So, I walked up and showed them my ticket and passport. The first soldier said I would have to get permission from another guy standing in a group by a big transporter vehicle. Well, I talked to him and he had no idea what the ticket was. So, I went back to the first guy and said the other guy said I could pass. He said ok...and now I was on my way!!
It was weird to walk through streets that had no traffic o them at all. Nothing but soldiers, cops, and lots of vehicles. What was odd was that at first you really couldnot see a lot of law enforcement. Then, when you looked down the alleys, you saw it all. There seemed to be a small force where they were visible. But then, the vast majority was hidden away, not trying to be seen until they were absolutely needed.
But, just
the sight of no pedestrians, but me really, was very odd.
I finally got to the complex and went in. They were loading the busses and I ran into Raphaela from a class. We ended up hanging out all day. She is originally from East Germany and told me a few stories from there. It was all very interesting.
We get on the busses and off we go to the Rhenus Arena, which I have never been to. We had a motorcycle escort and everything. Although it all seemed rather superfluous. There were no cars or people allowed where were were going anyway. Plus, I could have easily walked to this place much quicker than doing all this stuff. Oh well, I guess rules are rules.
After we are given the rules governing our movements from here on out, we sat back and arrived in fifteen minutes. they herded us into a waiting area for about one hour. Finally, we all walked across the street. And we really did walk. There was no pushing or shoving at all. We were scanned, checked out, had camera turned on and looked
at. But we did keep our belts and shoes on!!!! I guess they have not heard of the shoes and belt bombers over here yet!!!
At that point, we walked up into the arena and were told pretty much were to sit. I blieve at that point we had about another 1.5 hours to wait. We talked and looked at people. We actually ended up moving and sitting behond Obama. So, in the photo in the NYT, I am actually visible...well as a blob...at the upper left hand side. I am next to a guy who is standing in the aisle taking a picture. Maybe someday, if technology allows, you can really blow up the picture and tell it is me. But, for now, you have to trust me..
We entertained ourselves by watching all the preparations. Finally, they had a lady come up and sing. I think she sang in English, but I really could not pick up the words. Finally, she finished, they vacuumed the stage...I guess she left a big mess, and then the real props started coming out. First, they put the Presidential Seal on the
podium. Then, they brought out the walk around microphone. Next came the barstool to sit casually on, follwed by the refreshing bottle of no brand water.
The crowd started to get a little excited now. But, it was funny. Not an "American" excited, but a way more subdues kind of feel. Thye were some older American ladies in the crowd who were making up for the rest of us. They were yelling and singing and having a great time. Much to the chagrin of the rather stone faced people around them. It was funny to watch.
President Obama finally showed up 30 minutes late and immediately went on with his speech. I thought it was okay. He seems to be in a bit of a lecturing mood these days. He said a lot of good, reasonable things. Certainly, he struck a chord with the Europeans in the audience when he talked about nuclear weapons and Gitmo.
He slipped up a couple times. You could tell he ad libbed what he thought was a better line. But then, that ad lib sort of messed
up the next line. I thought he stumbled when he repeated the French " Liberte, equalite, fraternite" motto. He seemed to pull a Bush and forgot the second term. Everybody laughed, and then he said something, but I don't think anyone heard it. Oh well.
Finally after lecturing for probably twenty minutes, he decided to take question. Of course, now, he only had a short time for questions. That really sucked. Thus was supposed to be a town hall. The people are supposed to ask lots of questions. A grand total of 5 were asked. Then, when he "answered", he went on and on and on.....sort of like one of my posts on this sight. You wanted to say...shut up already...you are done!!!
When he first asked for questions, lots of hands went up....the first questioner...American. So, after he "answered" He said "C'mon now.... Lets not let Americans dominate this discussion"....so on when he asked for the next question....only a few hands...and I mean a few.....went up....so..the Americans took that as a Screw it!!! My hand goes up!!! Well, when an American got picked again.
He let the crowd vote on it and he "answered". The next three questions...yea.... three whole questions were from Europeans. And then it was over...He walked around shaking hands and off he went. About 20 minutes later, they started letting people out of the building.
I was extremely disappointed. I mean 5 lousy question!!!?!?!? And then to drone on forever on each answer!!! Ironlically, last night I went to see the "Frost-Nixon" movie. Nixon was killing frost simply by talking for 20 -25 minutes on each subject..turning each quesion around until it favored what he wanted. It sort of reminded me of Obama.
Hey, but at least I have yet another story to tell people when I finally gitthe Old Folks Home!!! And like I have always said....whoever dies with the most stories is the biggest winner!!!!!
See you and enjoy the photos....sorry they are blurry...my camera was on zoom and he moves around so much...well, you know....Hey I was there!!!!!
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