Obama says Great wall inspires him to push socialist reforms through quickly

Discussion in 'Politics' started by MohdSalleh, Nov 18, 2009.

  1. A Great Wall: Obama tours China's iconic site
    By CHARLES HUTZLER, Associated Press Writer Charles Hutzler, Associated Press Writer Wed Nov 18, 5:54 am ET

    BEIJING – President Barack Obama absorbed history's expanse Wednesday from atop the Great Wall of China, a manmade wonder of such enormity that Obama found himself putting daily life in perspective.

    "It's magical," Obama said, walking down a ramp alone, his hands in his pockets. "It reminds you of the sweep of history and our time here on earth is not that long. We better make the best of it."

    A must-see for presidents from President Richard Nixon on, the Great Wall was one of Obama's major sightseeing stops during his diplomatic tour of Asia. He later traveled to Seoul, South Korea, the final stop of his eight-day trip.

    Dressed in a winter jacket against a biting wind at the Great Wall, Obama led a knot of people for a half-hour jaunt up the crenelated wall toward a watchtower, a restored section originally built 500 years ago.

    Obama walked down the last ramp by himself in a choreographed moment for photographers. White House aides were exultant afterward that "the shot" they had planned turned out perfectly.

    The earliest sections of the wall were built more than 2,000 years ago. From the portion where Obama stood, the mountainside vistas were majestic.

    Obama's tourism breaks at the Great Wall and the Forbidden City's former imperial palaces on Tuesday were the only diversions on an eight-day Asia trip meant to show U.S. reengagement with the region.

    Obama sought to reassure allies in Japan and Southeast Asia — a mission he would continue in South Korea later Wednesday. In China, he tried to lend positive momentum to relations with the new world power and potential rival.

    Stops at landmark tourist sites used to be — and often still are — compulsory for foreign dignitaries visiting China. Nixon's foreign affairs strategist Henry Kissinger suspected his Chinese hosts scheduled sightseeing to drag out his time — and perhaps drag out concessions.

    History matters to the Chinese, who take pride in being heirs to a civilization of 4,000-plus years and believe the past offers insights into their present.

    The head of China's legislature, Wu Bangguo, told Obama on Monday, "In China, there is a saying that if you want to appreciate the history of China in the past 100 years, go to Shanghai; in the past 1,000 years, come to Beijing; and for the past 2,000 years, go to Xi'an" — the imperial capital of China's first emperor and later dynasties.

    Obama replied that he was impressed with the dynamism of Shanghai, where he held a town hall-style meeting with Chinese youth Monday and which, he said, is "a sign of China's emergence as a great economic power." His rapid 30-minute run through the vast Forbidden City on Tuesday was "a reminder of the incredible traditions and heritage of the Chinese people."
     
  2. Ricter

    Ricter

    Non sequitur.
     
  3. Lucrum

    Lucrum

    Constitutional amendment proposal.

    Amendment 28

    "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators or Representatives and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States.”
     
  4. maxpi

    maxpi

    and the Chinese are looking at him and thinking about how the US exported their manufacturing pollution to them... workers of the world unite you stupid bastards, then nobody with a brain will be in charge and you will all circle the drain together, happy in the knowledge that everybody has the same level of misery as you do...

    Those Chicoms are probably looking at the Obamanation and thinking "wow, this guy is a pushover"
     
  5. Ricter

    Ricter

    Pushover in what way? With the exception of one issue, the renminbi, they are trying to meet us part way on many issues.