Obama visited Amsterdam!

[Oege]

I, and many Dutch people, are proud and happy President Obama took a few hours to visit the city of Amsterdam, capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, last monday! It was the first time ever a President of USA (when in office) visited my city, so it was quite an occasion.

President Obama was attending the nucluar summit in Den Haag (the Hague) but before that started he took some time to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam where he met the mayor of Amsterdam, mr. Eberhard van der Laan, the director of the Rijksmuseum, mr. Wim Pijbes and the Dutch prime-minister, mr. Mark Rutte.

The bond of friendship between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and USA go back a long time, in fact it was at a Dutch fort, on the island of St. Eustachius (a Dutch colony in the Carabean) that the flag of USA (during the war of indepence against the British) was FIRST saluted by a foreign country. (as a revenge the British tried to conquer the island, killing most people who lived there and took all valuables with them...)

All Americans will know Peter Stuyvesant, who traded "New Amsterdam" (today known as New York) for Surinam, but did you know 3 USA Presidents had Dutch ancestors?

Martin van Buren (1782–1862)
Franklin Roosevelt (1882–1945)
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)

Thanks again Mr. President Obama to give our city a visit!

 

[Oege]

Oops... by accident I posted it in the "GAY news section" how to transfer it to the "general news section? Thanks

 

[Dendood]

I was happy to see him there! I enjoyed the nice visual of having a press conference in front of the Night Watch. That is a beautiful painting. Beautiful city. Lovely people. -Although I joke with people here, affectionately, that Dutch men have one of two types of heads. Either very large craniums, big heads, like watermelons. Or very narrow heads where the planes of the head are very vertical. Like human Pez dispensers.

Forgive me, I'm an artist.

Which is not to suggest the men aren't attractive...... HOOOOOOT! I wanted to manhandle every third man I saw. Beautiful men.

Hopefully the President did not cause the scene I caused when I visited the Rijksmuseum. Unassuming and mild mannered as I am, I have a notorious history of sending museum guards into a crazed state of red alert. Both here in the U.S. and abroad. Well, maybe not England, they paid me no attention (?) there. Anyway, the Rijksmuseum was a classic example of little me causing a fire storm.

I was so excited to finally be there, nose to so many of the great paintings in Art History. I was determined to suck in as much as I could. Unlike most tourists who flutter by paintings, I can linger in front of a picture for hours on end. I examine the painting for characteristics of the brush strokes. Blended edges, chattering paint, enamel like dabs. I try to deconstruct the paint strata by following colors to see how they lay over or under one another. I can go on forever.

The first day there, I am carefully examining painting after painting. The following day I return with my husband for more of the same. That's when it happens. I'm about a half hour into looking at one painting. My husband is sitting on a couch patiently waiting for me to finish. I'm lost in a Rembrandt, while my boyfriend notices a guard hovering around me. After a bit the guard briskly walks off and he knows something is up.

We finally move to the next room.... and even I am exhausted from all the close examination. So we are both sitting on a couch looking at a Vermeer when several guards and a heavy set woman, clearly in charge comes up to us -stand side by side forming a wall between us and the paintings. And she begins questioning us.

"You are American?"
"You've been here a long time."
"You were here yesterday." (Said in a very accusatory tone.)

The questions went on from there. I'm sitting there quiet and dumbstruck, wondering how it could be possible to look at artwork, artwork I've longed to see all my adult life, for too long. Meanwhile my husband politely tries to explain that he is an artist, he studies renaissance painting techniques, blah, blah, blah. None of this is working for them until at some point he says, "....we're leaving tomorrow." To which she enthusiastically repeats, "You're leaving tomorrow."

So they leave us. We both comment how weird that was. But we continue looking at work till closing. We head down to leave and my husband decides to go to the bathroom. I'm thinking, maybe that's not a good idea and I say as much. But he is determined and I had to go as well. So we went. It is a huge lavatory, with stalls for maybe 12 people. Except for the two of us, the place is empty. I go in a stall. He uses the open urinal. I know where he's at, so it feels really weird when a minute or two later, someone takes the stall next to me. Clearly a guard has followed me into the john.

When we get to the main entrance to the museum, there is a phalanx of security guards in the lobby. At least 20 of them, left and right of the door. Very clearly there to see us out. -Back in the comfort of home and the good ol' USA, I debated for a month to write and ask what all that was about. Such was my visit to the Rijksmuseum. I couldn't have been the first black person to visit. But I made a splash when I did.


I look forward to going back. The Night Watch is a joy. And the cafe at the Van Gogh Museum is stellar.

 

[brmstn69]

Personally, I find it embarrassing whenever the President visits any country. No other world leader travels with a 40+ vehicle motorcade, nor do they ride around in a tank disguised as a Cadillac (I'm not shitting you, the thing has five inch thick armored plating)

It's all so over the top, look at me I'm so fucking important, bla, bla, bla...

All the other world leaders travel in normal cars, some armored, but no where near the extent of Obama's Cadillac.
It's just obscene...

Hell, Jose Mujica president of Uruguay, drives an old Volkswagen Beetle...

It's no wonder the rest of the world hates Americans...

 

[Dendood]

My eyes, my eyes.... my eyes are offended by the sight of your ride.

My eyes, my eyes.... my eyes are offended by the color of the sky.

My eyes, my eyes....

 

[Oege]

brmstn69, well there is a reason for it isn't there? So many people want President Obama dead, not because he is President. Obama but because of his job...

what surprised me is that President Obama brought his own cook, I wonder if there is a fridge in Airforce 1 filled with hamburgers

 

[brmstn69]

There hasn't been a credible assassination attempt on a US president since Reagan. The closest was an idiot that fired a .38 revolver at the White house from the street during the G.W. Bush era. It's overkill to have a limo designed for missile attacks, and the number of security personnel is ridiculous. They arrive hours ahead of the President and basically take over the entire area, pushing everybody around.

I was working for a private airport when King Hussein of Jordon landed his private plane there. Two men exited the plane, walked up to my boss and politely asked that any unnecessary personnel please be excused for the evening. A couple of baggage handlers and janitors were given the rest of the day off with pay and the King exited the plane with a couple of bodyguards. That was it.
If the president didn't make such an entrance and alert the media to his every move, security would not be much of an issue...

But what I'm really trying to say is that all the excess that comes with a presidential visit gives people the impression that the US believes he's the most important person in the world and his security takes precedence over all others including other Heads Of State.

A bloated sense of self importance...

 

[Tjerk12]

Our Dutch Prime Minister on his safety vehicle:
Mark Rutte (left) on his bicycle.



Our Dutch security guards are so skilled, that you even don't see them!

 

[bigsal]

With this post I hope not to attract the wrath of the American friends, but after the tragic 9/11, the issue of security and terrorism was a perfect alibi to justify many nefariousness committed by the U.S. government, many of which still of sad topical.

However I agree with brmstn69, it is absurd that every time you move these characters you must lock down entire cities.

 

[Dendood]

With all the dire issues facing the planet: wars, famine, hunger, abuse of human rights, pollution, income inequity, corporate greed, disease ( a host of issues there from unsolved human ailments like HIV and Cancer, to the return of human disease we though were under control like Polio and TB), global economic issues, religious strive, sectarian violence, drug abuse, drug cartels, water issues, drug abuse, looming natural disasters, nuclear armament, Mafias of all sorts, abusive governments.... the list goes on,

You can find the time to obsess over optics? Bothered by how things 'look'.

"There hasn't been a credible assassination attempt on a U.S. President since...."

And that equates to what exactly??? Anything you follow that with would be a false, illogical argument. The equivalent of saying it didn't rain the last two Mondays therefore it cannot rain next Monday, why keep an umbrella?" I happened to have been a living witness to the days when there was a successful, credible assassination attempt on a U.S. President. It brought our country to its knees. And it is not an event I'd ever wish for our people to endure again. Whatever ounce of prevention it takes to spare us that sort of National grief I have no issue with.

And I would think even YOUR country would be quite pleased the President arrived with his own security. Because if our President were assassinated in YOUR country, you can bet the U.S. military industrial complex would heap a "shock and awe" hurt in response, you'd rue the day there was even the sliver of a possibility our President would hurt his baby finger on your soil. -Any ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I lament our use of resources to wage war. I lament our use of resources to support dictators, bad actors in the world, energy cartels and the like. But they can set the President in anything they want surrounded by anyone they want. One more or less security guard, one larger or smaller car doesn't mean a damn bit of difference to all the social ills I've listed.

Bullshit optics. There are serious global problems to solve. Enough of this complaining about the color of the sky.

 

[bigsal]

Our Dutch Prime Minister on his safety vehicle:
Mark Rutte (left) on his bicycle.



Our Dutch security guards are so skilled, that you even don't see them!

This is the true signals to be given citizenship. Simplicity and sobriety. :thumbs up:

 

[Oege]

Even the King and Queen of the Netherlands like to ride a bike, and so do their daughters

 

[ritsuka]

It's too bad that a war criminal like Obama, murdering innocent people daily with his toy drones can visit The Hague and not be arrested and tried there. How disgusting that when he visited Brusells a few days ago he made a speech defending the Iraq war saying it was "within international law" to murder over a million people and install their ridiculous sectarian puppet government, leaving the country contaminated with depleted uranium and white phosphorous that is causing horrific birth defects that are not easily covered since the US dismantled Iraq's single-payer healthcare system upon their invasion. Obama should stay home, so should the military, focus on local problems and not pretend to be president of the world.

 

[brmstn69]

With all the dire issues facing the planet: wars, famine, hunger, abuse of human rights, pollution, income inequity, corporate greed, disease ( a host of issues there from unsolved human ailments like HIV and Cancer, to the return of human disease we though were under control like Polio and TB), global economic issues, religious strive, sectarian violence, drug abuse, drug cartels, water issues, drug abuse, looming natural disasters, nuclear armament, Mafias of all sorts, abusive governments.... the list goes on,

While not stated, I have the feeling that this was directed towards me. So I'll respond...

As to all those dire issues you listed, maybe if the president and the US government would stop being the UN's bitch and doing all their dirty work, they could put more effort towards said issues...

I happened to have been a living witness to the days when there was a successful, credible assassination attempt on a U.S. President. It brought our country to its knees. And it is not an event I'd ever wish for our people to endure again. Whatever ounce of prevention it takes to spare us that sort of National grief I have no issue with.

I'm not sure if you're referring to JFK or Reagan, but I will say that JFK's choice of a convertible was indeed unfortunate. I do remember Reagan, saw it live on TV. He was shot on his way to the car by a deranged man (John Hinkley) on American soil, surrounded by his protection detail.Not even O'bama's "Beast" would have helped there His limo BTW, was the same armored (though not to the extent of the Obama's limo) Lincoln used by Nixon and Ford. Ford also escaped an assassination attempt in said limo, whose light armor plating was more than adequate. It would seem that ever since they started using closed cars all assassination attempts have been while the president was outside the car. It would also seem that all the security in the world won't stop a determined person from at least trying. And let's face it, not since JFK, has there been a president that would really be missed...

But the point I've been trying to make is that while an armored car is perfectly reasonable, the "Beast" as it's called is overkill. No other world leader, not even a piece of shit like Putin, despots like Kim Jong-un and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia nor the most hated leaders of some of the most violent regions in the world have such security. Overkill is the only word for it.

And I would think even YOUR country would be quite pleased the President arrived with his own security. Because if our President were assassinated in YOUR country, you can bet the U.S. military industrial complex would heap a "shock and awe" hurt in response, you'd rue the day there was even the sliver of a possibility our President would hurt his baby finger on your soil. -Any ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

What do you mean by YOUR country?

I am an American and formerly a cog in the U.S. military industrial complex...
Why else would I be embarrassed by the grotesque circus that follows the president every where he goes?:rofl:

I lament our use of resources to wage war. I lament our use of resources to support dictators, bad actors in the world, energy cartels and the like. But they can set the President in anything they want surrounded by anyone they want. One more or less security guard, one larger or smaller car doesn't mean a damn bit of difference to all the social ills I've listed.

No, it doesn't make a bit of difference, except in how other nations perceive America, and lately they see us as a fucking joke...

 

[Dendood]

And so goes the deadly human comedy of self destruction.

 

[haiducii]

This is the true signals to be given citizenship. Simplicity and sobriety. :thumbs up:

:agree:

 

[haiducii]

So proud of him!

btw, our president drives a 23 years old R4

 

[tonka]

I expect Barack Obama is safer in Amsterdam than here at home. I wish our major political figures could bike around and drive around. Not possible.
Our politics are very polarized. Our "crazy guys with guns" level is very high. And the animus towards Obama is very high. I live in a very liberal state, but I have heard the "Someone should just kill this guy" comment quite a few times. So whatever it takes...no dead president.

But Mr President. Please stop coming to Boston. We like you, but you're very disruptive.
Raise your money someplace else.

 

[brmstn69]

btw, our president drives a 23 years old R4

So does the Pope...

 

[weydowner]

Which country pays for the protection, though? I seem to remember it is the host country.
I remember when Obama was the Great White (sorry) Hope after the disaster of the Bush Jr & Cheney years. The world, not just the US, hoped for much better from him, but then, the world hoped for much better from the US.

Still, all is not lost, - in an alternative universe we could have had President Mitt, or even President Sarah.