The Obama family will have a lot of critical decisions to make over the course of the next several years. None may be more important then picking the right dog for their new residence-the White House. That might be a extreme exaggeration, but nonetheless the American public and media is enthralled with the tough choice the Obama's have. They have expressed interest in adopting a shelter dog, a very noble cause. However, Barack's 10-year-old daughter, Malia, has some allergies to dogs. So the process is more complicated then it might seem on the surface. However, Barack should consider adopting a dog that might make our "Country's that Probably Hate America" list a little shorter. In fact, the Obama's new dog could become a tool and symbol for America's new foreign diplomacy. President Bush tried this tactic during his presidency by owning Scotties, unfortunately the U.S. has had no major problems with Scotland.
Over the Bush terms, the U.S. has been very aggressive towards Afghanistan and the terrorists that live there. We have struggled to control country and the influx of people that hold negative feelings towards our own country. However, placating these terrorists might go beyond dismantling our government and leaving them alone. If Obama, wishes to get along with this country he might think about adopting an Afghan Hound. What better way to show Afghanistan respect and friendship then getting a dog named after their country. The Afghan Hound is found in ancient paintings in many of Afghanistan's caves and is considered one of the oldest breeds. It is a very majestic dog and has the nickname "The King of Dogs." This small step, might be the key to helping our relations with this middle-eastern country improve.
"I think it might a good strategy, I don' think any country can hate us if a dog from their country is practically our mascot," said PLNU student Alex Buttweiler.
Here are some more options for the Obama family that will help U.S foreign relations.
-Chinese Shar-Pei: The Chinese don't really hate us, I think. But just to be sure, this dog is great with children and has been around in China ever since the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.)
-Boston Terrier: I know Boston isn't really a country or even close to one. But they seem to be temperamental people.
-Jindo: This breed is relatively unknown outside of Korea. Which means owning this dog will make Kim Jong happier and hopefully less crazy.
-Polish Lowland Sheepdog: This might not be the best choice due to the recent economy because purebred puppies can fetch up to $2,000. But I thought it might be a safe to have at least one European Union member in the mix.
