Archive for the ‘December 2009’ Category

December 31, 2009 – New Year’s Resolutions

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Like everyone else, it’s the time to make some New Year’s resolutions. I’m doing this publicly so I can be held accountable. Next December I’ll give my report on how I did.

Visit the Territories—It’s time to go North! I promised when I got here that I would go to all 10 provinces in the first two months of my tenure. I did that (my thoughts about those travels in a subsequent posting). Now it’s time to visit the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon. Some during the winter. Hey, I’m from Chicago!!

Ride a dogsled—I have been in about every other form of transport from armored personnel carrier to float plane. But I haven’t been dogsleding. 2010 is my year.

Collect more t-shirts — Some people collect art. Some people collect spoons. Julie and I collect t-shirts. They’re cheap. We have them made into t-shirt quilts. I have done a pretty good job of remembering to pick them up during my travels. But I missed a few places. (Are you listening Red Deer, Alberta?).

Learn to Cross Country Ski – I did a lot of downhill skiing when I was younger. I slowed down after I hurt my knee skiing in a place where I shouldn’t have been. But I have never done cross country. That’s about to be fixed.

Eat Less and Exercise More – Like everyone else January 1 is the time to start working off those pounds. I am publicly committing to lose 12 pounds in the next 12 months. And to get a little more exercise.

Finally, I want to wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy and safe new year!!!

DJ

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December 30, 2009

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Last week I was in Afghanistan visiting the troops over Christmas. I traveled with Gen. Walt Natynczyk and a few others. One of the people there with us was a young reporter from Canwest on her first trip to Afghanistan. She was subbing for a couple of weeks for another reporter who regularly covers the war. Her name was Michelle Lang. When the rest of us left of Saturday she stayed behind to continue her reporting.

Today was an awful day in Afghanistan. Five Canadians and eight Americans died in IED attacks and suicide bombings. One of them was Michelle Lang.

I don’t know what to say except that she was a sweet, kind, optimistic young woman who literally always had a smile on her face – even in Afghanistan. If it is scant consolation to her family and friends she loved what she was doing. And she did it well. When she finished interviewing me we were both laughing.

It is a tragedy beyond words. It breaks my heart. My condolences go out to her family and to the families of all those who died today. While it is always terrible when someone dies like this; it is so much worse when you know them. When you care about them. This is a reminder to me that everyone who perishes over there is a person — not a statistic. Every one has mothers and fathers; sisters and brothers; children; friends.
I am so sorry.
DJ

Posted in December 2009 |

December 23 – Happy Holidays

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

With the holidays upon us and lots of events with family, friends, colleagues, and kin, I would like to thank everyone who has made my transition to Canada so smooth and welcoming. In honor of this special season, I am going to take a small break from posting in this blog. I promise to return in the new year with lots of stories from the holidays and trips to come.

I would like to thank everyone who has written to me with their warm welcomes as I’ve travelled across Canada these past few months, and for sharing their suggestions and unique perspectives on our two countries’ relationship from region to region. Although I can’t respond to each and every e-mail, I’m glad to be hearing from so many Canadians that I have met and from those I have yet to meet who continue to read my blog. I look forward to meeting even more of you and to what we can accomplish in 2010.

My best wishes to everyone this holiday season and a very Happy New Year.
DJ

Posted in December 2009 |

December 12, 2009 – Ottawa

Monday, December 14th, 2009

I was out buying Christmas presents this afternoon and had quite a thrill. As we were leaving one of the stores there was a big commotion on the street. We saw a bunch of Olympic trucks going past. And then the Olympic torch bearer.

The Olympic Torch Bearer in Ottawa

The Olympic Torch Bearer in Ottawa


The crowd was very excited with lots of “go Canada” cheers. Made us very excited about the Olympics. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
DJ

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December 4, 2009 – Toronto

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Hope and Change.

This morning I had a real treat. I had a chance to visit with Sister Constance Murphy of the St. John the Divine Convent outside Toronto. Sister Constance is 105 years old — the oldest American in Canada. I delivered to her a letter of congratulations from President Obama. The letter read in part:

“As you reflect upon a lifetime of memories, we hope that you are filled with tremendous pride and joy. You have accomplished much over the past 105 years. Your dedication to your faith and community and your service to others is truly inspiring.”

Ambassador Jacobson presents President Obama's letter to Sister Constance

Ambassador Jacobson presents President Obama's letter to Sister Constance


Sister Constance – who is amazingly alert at 105 – was very excited. She kept asking us “whose idea was this?”

Perhaps most touching, Sister Constance, who is African-American, is originally from Baltimore. She came to Canada because she was excluded from all White orders in the United States. She has seen so much change in her 105 years.

She told me she watched the President get inaugurated and she had recently renewed her U.S. passport. Talk about hope!!!

I was thrilled to be able to bring so much joy to someone so deserving of it.
DJ

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December 2 – Whistler

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

This morning I appeared on Fanny Kiefer’s morning TV show Studio 4. We had a great conversation ranging from Afghanistan to my childhood. Somehow she got a copy of a picture of me in a football uniform when I was about 5. Very embarrassing. Unlike the interview on CTV last night we were in the same room. It’s a lot easier to be relaxed when you are talking to a live person, not a dark room.

Host Fanny Kiefer of Studio 4 in Vancouver interviews Ambassador Jacobson.

Host Fanny Kiefer of Studio 4 in Vancouver interviews Ambassador Jacobson.


After the show we drove up the Sea to Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler to check out the Olympic venues. The ride is about the most beautiful I have ever seen. While there are many places with majestic mountains, there aren’t too many that have those mountains against the backdrop of the Strait of Georgia. The drive is definitely worth the trip.

We had lunch with Mayor Ken Melamed of Whistler and MLA Joan McIntyre who represents the region in the BC Legislative Assembly, and Fiona Famulak from the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. We talked about the Olympic bid process, all the work that goes in to the preparation and the fact that the whole world will be watching.

What they will see is something very special. If there is one word that comes to mind about the Whistler Olympic Park its “impressive.” This place is first rate. I had looked forward to the seeing the sliding venue and it did not disappoint. People have to be either crazy or brilliant to slide down these slopes at speeds illegal on most highways. They go past so fast you can barely see them.

Ambassador Jacobson and Mrs. Jacobson in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics site

Ambassador Jacobson and Mrs. Jacobson in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics site


We also had a chance to visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center and visit with Chief Gibby Jacob and a group of young people who put on a performance for me and Julie. I am excited about the Olympics!! Can’t wait for them to start.

DJ

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December 2, 2009 – Vancouver

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Last Night the President spoke about the way forward in Afghanistan. I am always very proud to represent President Obama and the American People. But I was particularly proud last night.

The President reconfirmed our core goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al-Qaeda and to ensure that they do not return to Afghanistan or Pakistan. To do so, he announced a surge of 30,000 additional troops who will secure key population centers, train Afghan forces, transfer responsibility to a capable Afghan partner, and increase our partnership with Pakistan which is facing the same threats. Those new troops will join the 68,000 US troops and the 37,000 coalition forces including 2,830 from Canada who are already there. The President talked about how our friends have fought, bled, and died with us on the battlefields of Afghanistan and that certainly applies to our friends from Canada.

The President came to this conclusion as a result of a deliberate and disciplined process where he focused on the hard questions, and took the time to carefully consider all of the options. As part of that process he consulted with our allies, including Canada. Because he will send the sons and daughters and mothers and fathers of others into war, and because some of them will not return, he approached the decision with the greatest of care.

After watching the speech I had the opportunity to talk to the Canadian people via CTV News from their studio in Vancouver. The interview was my first experience with what the television business calls a “double-ender.” I sat alone in a dark room with a camera and earpiece in Vancouver and chatted with CTV host Marcia MacMillan, who was in Toronto. On TV we are next to each other on the screen. But when you are in the dark room alone you feel like you are talking off into space. I’m sure you can get used to it. But I’m not there yet.

Today, Julie and I are off to Whistler to see the preparations for the Games. I am particularly excited about seeing the venue for the sliding events. I wonder if I can convince someone to let me take a bobsled down a run. Something makes me think Julie wouldn’t be amused!
DJ

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