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Now that the citizens of the U.S. have elected Barack Obama, I have a question for all my other readers around the world: What is the reaction in your country? I'd rather hear it directly from you than cable news stations. Is the rest of the world as giddy as some of us are? Concerned? Happy? Scared? Apathetic? What do you think of America's decision?
18 comments:
I called this election two years ago and then again when McCain appointed Palin as his running mate. I said the US was not ready for a woman president but they were more able to accept a black president. Obama has charisma, class and intelligence. I think the US will be better for this decision, as will the rest of the world. I'm glad the Bush years are over and I look forward to discovering more about Obama's agenda regarding Canada (I'm not sure we're really on his radar.).
I'd be interested in hearing as well, thanks for asking.
Overall people seem to be excited here in Portugal :) Actually, I can't think of anyone among my family, friends and colleagues who wasn't an Obama sympathizer.
Heather ~ I think the whole world is on his radar in one way or another. If we want to improve our global relations, everyone has to be involved.
Lisa ~ You're welcome! I hope we hear from lots of different places.
Nymeth ~ So *you're* my Portugal visitor! Cool!
Lezlie
Well, I'm American, but as I'm in the UK at the moment, I can comment on this - and people here are happy! They're very pleased with us and a number of them have commented on it and even stayed up very late last night watching the results. This is actually the first day that I feel I can tell people here that I'm American without them looking down on me. It's a wonderful feeling.
The reaction is Australia is overwhelmingly positive, and very much conscious of the fact that we have seen history occur.
I think it was the right outcome.
I'm delighted, and the people I've been talking to are as well. I think most Canadians were ready to see the end of Bush as well.
(and I'm so happy that your post-election post is so much cheerier than mine was!)
Meghan, Marge & Melanie ~ Thank you for your perspectives! I truly believe that Obama can heal this country and help in the world. Only time will tell if we made the right decision, but I'm so glad the hope is felt even beyond our borders.
Lezlie
As neighbours, I think that Canadians feel that Americans made the right choice. I, for one, am looking forward to change -- because the USA is such a large and powerful country worldwide, all Obama's decisions will affect other countries.
I'm Polish living in Belgium and working for the EU institutions with people of 27+ nationalities and I can tell you that people over here are relieved. The world according to Bush was a scary place for many and now I think that people feel relief and hope for a better future.
Many are talking about what will actually happen - we tend to look to the US to be on board with the big issues, like climate change for instance. Things that no area of the world can solve on its own.
Lezlie, you can also see what Commission VP Margot Wallstrom (from Sweden) has to say about the election in her blog:
http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/wallstrom/american-election/
Monica ~ I'll bet there are a lot of people in other countries who wish they had a vote in our elections *because* we have so much influence all over the world. I'm not sure "influence" is really the word I'm looking for, but you know what I mean. :-)
Joanna ~ Thanks for the info on Sweden! And I think Obama will be on board with the big global issues. This will be a fascinating four years.
Lezlie
Lezlie, Thanks for asking this question! As you know I live in Canada but have dual citzenship, so I was able to vote for Obama.
Most Canadians that I know are almost excited as excited as the U.S. that Obama got elected and the Bush era is over!
For me, it's been great all the comments that you are getting from this post. It's nice to hear from "real" people rather than just the media world.
Gosh Nymeth,I had no idea you were from Portugal! Cool!
Teddy Rose ~ I've been loving all these responses! We also got an email from my uncle in Germany (my dad is from Germany), and he tells us they are thrilled and that German and other European leaders greatly respect Obama and look forward to working with him. Yay!
Lezlie
Here's a link to a post about the majority Aussie perspective. She's has said it so much better than I could have!
Marg ~ Thank you for that link! Her words were beautiful!
Lezlie
Great question Lezlie! I am a US citizen so I did get the chance to vote for Barack and although I know he is not going to be able to live up to every campaign promise, I really believe that he will help the country to change the current course we are on. This election felt almost anticlimatic since Obama was so far ahead, it almost didn't even seem like a contest! Still, I am very happy about the results.
Kim ~ My husband said the same thing. It was such a long build up through the primaries, the conventions, and the final campaigning, then *poof*! All over as soon as the West Coast polls closed. That's okay though. I wouldn't have been ablet to take a nail-biter. :-)
Lezlie
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