re: #474 phoenixgirl

Brown, who is not known to be a movie buff, gave the president and his children several uniquely historical gifts.

The first of which is a pen holder fashioned from the oak timber of HMS Gannet, a Navy vessel that served on anti-slavery missions off Africa.

Another treasure given to Obama is a framed commissioning paper for the HMS Resolute, a Royal Navy ship that came to symbolize British-American goodwill when it was rescued by the U.S. from icebergs and given to Queen Victoria. It is the sister ship of the HMS Gannet.

Finally, Brown gave Obama a first edition of Martin Gilbert’s seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill, whose World War II partnership with President Franklin Roosevelt symbolized the U.S.-Anglo alliance.

It makes me ill every time I read of these carefully thought out and executed gifts (as well as the gifts for the daughters), when I think of what the O and WAB gave in return. Just physically ill at their total lack of class and manners. These gifts between heads of state aren’t really so much about the individuals who are giving and receiving, they are more a reflection of friendship and honor between two countries.

And for the O and WAB not to understand that is just heartbreaking.