Since I had to be home this afternoon to wait for the carpenter, I turned on the local news, prepared a steaming bowl of homemade sopa, and decided to live-blog Obama’s visit to Los Pinos from the confines of my family room. Here’s how it went down:
2:13 p.m. The Mexican national anthem is a surprisingly jolly song. Everyone is singing, even Felipe Calderón. Our national anthem sounds so mournful in comparison. When the band starts it up, complete with fluttery flute, Obama puts his hand over his heart and looks somber. He doesn’t sing, but does smile during the “land of the free” part. Oh god, I’m going to cry. That smile! Those ears! Where did this sudden burst of pride come from?
2:17: Calderón just name-dropped JFK.
2:19: The translators are taking forever. Calderón: “We’re a nation that believes in freedom.” Pause. Silence. Translator: “Somos una nación que cree en la libertad…” Or something like that. My Spanish note-taking isn’t so speedy yet.
2:23: Calderón: “We have before us the opportunity for a new era in trust in cooperation.”
2:24: Calderón, new era, blah blah blah. “In order to grow and prosper, we need American investment like America needs the strength of the Mexican labor force.” He adds that this new era will comprise a “shared responsibility” in the fight against organized crime.
2:28: As the translator rambles through Calderón’s pomp, Obama stands politely to the left. I wonder if Obama’s thinking: “I wonder what Michelle’s doing right now?” Because I wonder what Michelle’s doing right now. Maybe she’s watching this on CNN. But probably not the international version, because they’re not broadcasting it.
Calderón wraps up his speech by saying in heavily accented English: “Mr. President, let’s build a new era. Yes we can.” The translator translates the last sentence as “Sí podemos hacerlo.” Oh well.
2:29: Obama is called “El Excelentísimo Señor Barack Obama.” I love it. Love it. I want this on a bumper sticker. Or a T-shirt. To compliment my Michelle T-shirt. (Not joking on that one.)
2:30: Did they get a Puerto Rican to do the Spanish translation? What’s up with all the dropped s’s?
2:31: Obama says he wanted to visit Mexico so early in his presidency because “the bonds between the two countries cannot be broken.” Then he name-drops Chicago, and all of its great Mexican culture. As a nation, he adds, “we’ve benefited from the culture, energy, ambitions” of the Mexican people. “My hope is that the U.S. has had something to offer to Mexico as well.” Uh, yeah…. DOMINO’S???
2:34: Obama applauds Mexico for “courageously” taking on the drug cartels. It’s critical that the U.S. be a full partner in fighting drug trafficking, he says. He casually mentions the Mérida Initiative and stemming the flow of American guns into Mexico.
2:36: Awww. He called Mexico’s performance in the G-20 summit “outstanding.” Wrapping up his speech now. “It’s wonderfully fitting to see the children of Mexico–” [musical interlude in my head: I believe the children are our future…] –“because we are reminded that the reason we serve in government… is because it allows us to offer them a better future…”
He thanks Calderón and smiles a boyish, shy, embarrassed-fifth-grader smile.
So there you have it. Calderón on his tiptoes and Obama not saying much either. Although reinforcing the Mérida Initiative is kind of a big deal. Maybe this means it’ll get more funding.
great job lesley!! i love a good live-blogging..
d