The Dalai Lama and Pres Obama at Today's National Prayer Breakfast

choi

(1)
(a) 奥巴马公开称达赖喇嘛为 '好朋友.' BBC Chinese, Feb 5, 2015.

There is no need to read the ret of the BBC report, whi9ch says little else.
(b) 奥巴马达赖喇嘛早餐祈祷会互致问候. VOA Chinese, Feb 5, 2015.
www.voachinese.com/content/us-ch ... 150205/2629933.html

two consecutive pa4agraphs:

"在华盛顿今天（星期四）上午举行的年度国家早餐祈祷会上，奥巴马总统和达赖喇嘛互致问候，但没有直接见面。

"达赖喇嘛坐在第一排，正对奥巴马总统。奥巴马向达赖喇嘛点头微笑，合掌致意。奥巴马的高级顾问加雷特与达赖喇嘛同坐一桌，显示白宫对达赖喇嘛参加早餐祈祷会的支持态度

My comment:
(i) "没有直接见面"?  That is 掩耳盗铃.
(ii) Valerie Jarrett
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Jarrett
(1956- ; African-American; Senior Adviser to the President [that is the official title] 2009- )
(iii) Those are ROUND tables, with a dozen guests sitting around one.


(2) Press release: Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast. White House, Feb 5, 2015.
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-off ... al-prayer-breakfast

My comment:
(a) The president mentions the Dalai Lama twice in the speech:

"I want to offer a special welcome to a good friend, His Holiness the Dalai Lama -- who is a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion, who inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings.  (Applause.)  I’ve been pleased to welcome him to the White House on many occasions, and we’re grateful that he’s able to join us here today.  (Applause.)  There aren’t that many occasions that bring His Holiness under the same roof as NASCAR.  (Laughter.)  This may be the first.  (Laughter.)  But God works in mysterious ways.  (Laughter.)   And so I want to thank Darrell for that wonderful presentation.  Darrell knows that when you’re going 200 miles an hour, a little prayer cannot hurt.  (Laughter.)

"His Holiness expresses that basic law:  Treat thy neighbor as yourself.  The Dalai Lama -- anybody who’s had an opportunity to be with him senses that same spirit.

(b) Who is Darrell?

"NASCAR champion driver Darrell Waltrip delivered the keynote address at this year's event." USA Today, Feb 5, 2015.