If ever there was a teachable moment about etiquette for my girls, this one is most definitely it. From an Associated Press story about President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's first official trip to Britain to meet the Queen of England:
During their private meeting, President Obama and first lady gave the queen a personalized iPod with video footage of her 2007 visit to Washington and Virginia. She was also given a rare songbook signed by composer Richard Rodgers.
In return the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, gave the Obamas a signed portrait of themselves.
Take from this what you will, kids.
And that's all I have to say about that.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/John Stillwell, pool)
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A signed picture of themselves? Good Grief!!
ReplyDeleteI love love love The Obamas!
That photo is very telling. The Queen isn't looking into the camera, and Prince Philip looks like they caught him on his way out the door. And why is the Queen carrying that damn little handbag IN HER OWN HOUSE????
ReplyDelete@Carolyn: ROFL!!!!!!!!! Nice catch--didn't notice the purse on the wrist. Maybe she wanted to make sure it didn't walk away or something... you know how the "company" can get... What? You don't stash your purse in the back closet or hold on to it when company comes around?! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love how naturally warm the Obamas look while the queen looks...well...like she's one prozac away from la-la land.
ReplyDeleteLMAO. Y'all need to quit messin' with those old folks!
ReplyDeleteWow. The Royals look scared to death. WTH?
ReplyDeleteBeyond the obvious things in the picture, it's interesting to me to see the two generations and how different they are--and the gifts they chose to bestow. Do you really think the Queen is going to look at the iPod? I think both sides may have misjudged their audience and, although, I would have freakin' loved a personalized iPod from Obama, I'm betting that's not the same reaction the Queen had. Likewise, I'm sure the Obamas were just *thrilled* at the new, glossy 8x10 to put by the bed.
The Queen ALWAYS has a dumpy little bag hanging off her arm, at exactly the same distance from her wrist.
ReplyDeleteThe Queen reminds me of Sophia Patrillo from Golden Girls carrying that blasted purse everywhere like she lives in downtown Kingston and can get robbed at any moment. My President and First Lady are nothing shy of Royal! THEY are what I call a King and Queen!
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's the old guards having a hard time passing the baton? I'm trying to be nice here...
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! What hilarious noteworthy comments. ROFL!!! Yup, he looks like he needs a seat or something.
ReplyDeleteYou people genuinely scare me. This is not the first time the queen has met with foreign leader who wasn't white. She has always displayed nothing but the most courteous and respectful behavior. You don't know the circumstance surrounding the photo and the fact that your minds go there, even in jest, says a lot more about you than it does them. Secondly, the gift the queen gave is what they give all visitors. My mom gave me a ipod with photos of our trip to Tokyo on them. Its not befitting a queen or any icon. Obama gave Gordon Brown a DVD set worth 100 bucks. The Prime Minister gave President Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet. Lets talk about that being humorous and cheap.
ReplyDeleteBTW:
ReplyDeleteI don't need two people who didn't EXIST in my reality 7 years ago to tell me how to be classy. How to carry myself. How to wear sleeveless dresses. They aren't role models for every person who falls into the black identity.
@Electra: "You people." Um. Okay. I'm going to go on ahead and just let that one hang there for a minute or two. Naw, no I'm not: Who, exactly are you referring to as "you people?"
ReplyDeleteSecondly, who mentioned race? We were talking about class, darling. C.L.A.S.S. And it comes in call colors. It's fine if you don't agree with the majority here, who agreed pretty unanimously that it's enormously tacky to give someone an autographed picture OF YOURSELF. And be clear: The iPod had not only pictures of the queen on her trip to Virginia, but an incredible playlist of American standards--a thoughtful AMERICAN gift. In addition, President Obama gave the queen a rare, autographed sheet of music by an iconic American composer. Again, bringing a bit of American culture to a foreign head of state. Now, if you don't think that's classy, then hey: You have the right to your opinion. But you're the one who turned this into a black thing.
Oh, and um, surely, my readers and I are smart enough to recognize that Obama isn't the first leader of color the queen has met. Here at MyBrownBaby, we recognize that the world is FULL of leaders who aren't white, and they do meet with other foreign leaders who may not necessarily look like them. Again, that's your assumption--not ours.
The fact of the matter is that whether or not the Obamas existed in our worlds seven years ago, they are iconic NOW. And while it's not their job to teach any of us how to be, it sure is nice to see them representing and to cheer them on and to watch them soar. Sorry if you don't get anything from that. But I know a lot of people who do, me included.
Thanks for stopping by MBB.
Are you really trying to deny the fact that quite a few of responses on here have a racial undertone? Really? The reason you even posted this is because he's black! If it were McCain going to meet the queen I doubt any of you would bat a lash.If it were McCain giving a dvd box set, black people would jump right on it. If you're readers are so smart, that also means they can make things apparent without spelling it out. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteYou people. You people responding to the post. You person who posted this with a subtle assertion an unwarranted one, but that's neither here nor there.
Sorry if I don't find giving an ipod to a 80 something year old woman classy. Or even thoughtful considering she already had one. Considering anyone with a itunes account can download American standards(a lot to consider I know!). She's been the queen for 57 years, that's what she gives people, I find it to be hilarious but not tacky. Unanimity of a bunch of Obama supporters...Whoa!
Just what makes the Obamas so regal and classy? Frankly, the premise of royalty is completely un-american and I find obama=royalty comments disheartening. We don't want to follow blindly here. We don't believe in divine right here. But still I'm curious? I reckon the same thing that makes Michelle Obama a style icon. The media, someone telling me they're iconic doesn't mean they're iconic. Time is the only thing that can distinguish a blip on the screen from something actually important. Who are they representing? How are they soaring? Putting the country into deeper and deeper debt? Reneging on his platform promises??? Playing into peoples emotions? Feeding off white guilt? the hope of the youth??
Everyones so caught up in the Obama's very few are paying attention to what he's actually doing..and whether that's how you want to be represented. When I look for people to watch and admire I don't go by color. I'm not sold by dainty words like 'hope' and 'change'. I know that this country is not going down the direction but I do know blacks are going to get the raw deal at the end of all this.
Btw- For those inquiring about the bag, its used to give signals to her guards...when to end an interview, when shes done doing whatever it is the queen does.
and you're welcome, generally
@Electra: Okay sweetheart, I hope you've had your fill. At age 20, I'm kinda guessing that you need to get your weight up before you comment on this blog again. Quite obviously, you're going to need a little bit more life experience before you come onto MY blog presuming that you know what black folks need and insulting my readers. Save all of that for your little myspace page.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.