Visiting Abroad

The Old Amigo was pleased to hear this evening that President Obama (those two words still bring a smile, don't they?) visited Ottawa today and that a planned 10 minute, private chat with Prime Minister Harper was extended to 30 minutes because the two men hit it off well.  President Obama says that he is looking for appropriate ways to enhance trade with our good and very important northern neighbor. Prime Minister Harper says that he recognizes and takes seriously our security concerns. The leaders issue a joint statement to the effect that they want to pursue clean energy development in North America.

Then the radio reported that Secretary Clinton did on-the-street outreach in Indonesia during her asian trip. Her trip began in Japan, where she demonstrated by her presence the importance of our relations with that country and where she visited university students. She visits leaders. She visits young people on a music program.  She is now in South Korea where she is touring a major women's college. There were excerpts from some speeches. The excerpts portrayed Secretary C in a good light. She spoke earnestly yet gently of her boss and his ideas.

Something about these stories lends grounds for optimism. Perhaps it is the respect that these two important leaders demonstrate to their counterparts. Perhaps it is the new-found enthusiasm and happiness with which they are greeted by their hosts and by the citizens of the host countries. Perhaps it is their obvious intelligence and desire to make things better. It may merely be that they realize that they represent our country and are clearly trying to make a good impression.

What a concept.