By Lubna Abdel-Aziz No two people can disagree that the President of the US oozes with charm. There may however be disagreement as to his oratorical skills. He certainly gives a splendid speech when scripted, rehearsed and teleprompted. Leaving him to his own devices, to adlib or respond spontaneously to an unfamiliar question, he often finds himself in a hole. As has happened frequently, a correction follows the next day, by him or others, to clarify, adjust or reverse his impromptu statement. So it was with his latest racial allusion, and his reference to the Cambridge, Massachusetts white policeman as having acted stupidly in his scuffle with the black Harvard Professor. Hastening to rectify his gaffe, the President invited both parties involved to the White House for a "beer." The invitation was accepted, the partakers were satisfied. All's well that ends well! Beer must have been called to the rescue on many a fracas for the past 10,000 years or more. When humans were tired of hunting wild boar, and climbing tree trunks, they settled down and learned to farm. Grain was the first domesticated crop that started the farming process, and beer became one of the oldest prepared beverages, going back to the Neolithic period. Historians have traced the roots of brewing to Sumeria, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the world's earliest region for the domestication of cereals. This had anthropologists arguing whether it was beer or bread that was the primary reason for the origins of agriculture. It is now as academic as that of the chicken and the egg. They do agree however, that they were responsible for humanity's ability to develop technology and build civilizations. A serendipitous accident helped the Sumerian discover the fermentation process. Early accounts with pictograms show bread being baked then crumbled into water to make a mash which is then made into a drink that made people feel "exhilarated, wonderful, blissful." When the Sumerian Empire collapsed during the second millennium BC, the Babylonians took over and mastered the art of that euphoric drink. They perfected 20 types of beer, exported and distributed it as far away as Egypt. The Egyptians carried on the tradition of beer brewing forcing the scribes to create an extra hieroglyph for "brewer." An Egyptian text dating 1600 BC gives 100 medical prescriptions using beer. In the "Code of Hammurabi," the oldest known collection of laws, King Hammurabi established a daily beer ration, the quantity depending on your social standing, ranging from 2 liters per day for regular workers to 5 liters for high priests. Owners of beer parlors who overcharged customers were to be put to death by drowning. The popularity of beer continued with the Greeks and Romans and spread throughout the Mediterranean region, later by Germanic and Celtic tribes as far back as 3000 BC. Good news travels fast, though it was mainly brewed on a domestic scale. By the 7th century AD beer was also being produced and sold by European monasteries. During the Industrial Revolution, beer brewing continued to develop on a large scale with more control and more knowledge. Today the brewing industry is a global business consisting of several dominant, national and multinational companies and thousands of smaller producers. The word beer comes from the Latin "bibere," while the origin of the Spanish "cerveza" is the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture "Ceres." More than 133 billion liters are sold per year producing global revenues well over $300 billion (2006), $200 billion generated by European revenues (2008).It is the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. The alcohol content ranges from 1% to 20%, best taste usually corresponds to an alcohol content of 4.7%. There is a beer out there, to please everyone on the face of the earth. Beer consumption surpasses soft drinks in Europe, and almost every European country produces and consumes beer. Best consumers are the Czechs with 156,92 liters per capita followed by the Irish at 131.12, and the Germans at115.84. Russians still prefer their Vodka, but beer is growing in popularity among the new generation and consumption has reached 58.924 liters per capita. Sales of beer consumed in countries all over the world are four times that of wine. The moderate consumption of beer, or any other alcohol, is associated with "a decreased risk of cardiac disease, stroke, and cognitive decline." Brewer's yeast used in beer is known to be a rich source of nutrients including magnesium, selenium, potassium, phosphorus, biotin and vitamin B. Beer is sometimes referred to as liquid bread. Hops is said to relieve arthritic pains and the Japanese study found that low alcohol beer possesses strong anti-cancer properties. In some schools in Europe, beer with low alcohol content (1% - 4%) is served instead of soft drinks. The most widely known event in brewing history is the establishment of German standards for brewers in 1576 AD. A pledge of purity imposes only four ingredients on German beer, namely water, malted barley, malted wheat and hops. The main ingredient in beer is malt which is a sproated grain. The quality of water is crucial, hard water producing better ale, soft water a better lager. Around the world there are a number of traditional and ancient starch-based beverages that are classified as beer, made from millet, corn, rice, spelt, and barley. The US President made more than a good choice by inviting the professor and the policeman to the White House to break "liquid bread," so to speak. In many cultures breaking bread is the making of everlasting friendship, translated in other countries by sharing a drink, such as beer, glorious beer. The quest for mood-altering substances is one of the oldest, most entrenched human traits. To be removed from reality for a while, is a necessity in order to help us deal with the cruel facts of existence. We do that in many ways, reading a book, going on holiday, watching a movie, engaging in sports, games, cards, etc. Until recently smoking was one of these relaxing methods before we discovered it was killing us. A beer, every now and then, has so far not hurt anyone, and may even help. Obama scored once again with a beer and a handshake and to quote him "a learning opportunity." We learn again and again, that he knows how to make friends and influence people. Come my beloved fill the cup that clears Today of past regrets, and future fears -- The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Translated by Edward Fitzgerald (1809 -- 1883)
