The Blue Mosque, Istanbul. Photo by Dylan Silva.
by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama will make two ritual stops in Istanbul tomorrow, on the final day of his weeklong European tour: He will tour "the Blue Mosque,'' a world-renowned national treasure, and he will hold another "town hall.''
Obama, who plans a meeting with religious leaders in Istanbul in the morning also will tour a museum, the Hagia Sophia, which once was a basilica and later a mosque and remains as a monument to Byzantine architecture. It was completed in 536 and was the world's largest religious monument until 1520.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for the thousands of hand-painted tiles that adorn its interior, is the national mosque of Turkey.. It sits across from the Hagia Sophia. It was built between 1609 and 1616.
But for all the respects that Obama will pay to Istanbul's shrines, the president will be looking for a little respect of his own with a "town-hall'' styled session with students at the Tophane Cultural Center.
The American president will assemble university students from across the country as well as students from Kosovo, Korea and Albania studying in Turkey - as well as some who have participated in the State Department's programs, including the Fulbright scholarship and youth exchange programs.
The last stop in Turkey follows a similar town-hall session that Obama held with mostly young people in Strasbourg, France, last week. As in the town halls of the presidential campaign, Obama is courting not only a local audience, but also a national audience, with a conversation about his goals and views.
This trip has been one-part political diplomacy, one-part public communication and all-parts outreach for a new president attempting to offer the world "common ground'' with a nation whose policies had alienated it in many corners.
The U.S., as Obama said today in Ankara, and will likely say in so many words in Istanbul tomorrow, is "not at war with Islam.''
Comments
If any Camel smokers are still alive out there in the Swamp, isn't that the mosque on the softpack of Camel straights?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | April 6, 2009 8:59 PM
Obama is a very popular figure in Turkey, but resentment from the Bush years has not completely subsided and the instability in Iraq still hurts Turkey considerably. People want to see whether Obama will end the Iraqi occupation and steer America's Israel/Palestine policy before they make a final judgment on him, but overall they are cautiously optimistic and it's hard not to like Obama as a person.
This actually reminds me of the Clinton years. It seems like a century ago, but back then US presidents did not need such strict security measures and they could actually blend in with the crowds on the streets. Naturally, Clinton worked the crowds in Turkey and he was nothing short of a rock star. People loved him. With Obama, there is a slow return to those days, but security measures don't allow the public to approach the president anymore.
President Obama is doing a great job of repairing the damage that Bush did to our reputation around the world. You know, like when Bush made stupid statements like: "Bring'em On" and "Axis of Evil"
In addition to teaching to school children in America and around the world, these quotes should surely tell all American adults that "never again" should they vote for an ignorant, stupid, racist, evil neocon warmonger like Bush.
Posted by: former Republican | April 6, 2009 9:33 PM
If any Camel smokers are still alive out there in the Swamp, isn't that the mosque on the softpack of Camel straights?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | April 6, 2009 8:59 PM
Yes...cough! cough!
Posted by: bill r. | April 7, 2009 8:22 AM