In Obama, Many Overseas See Chance For New Direction And New Attitude

Washington Post:

For much of the world, Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries was a moment to admire the United States at a time when the nation's image abroad has been seriously damaged.

From hundreds of supporters crowded around televisions in rural Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, to jubilant Britons writing "WE DID IT!" on the Brits for Barack discussion board on Facebook, people celebrated what they called an important racial and generational milestone for the United States.

"This is close to a miracle. I was certain that some things will not happen in my lifetime," said Sunila Patel, 62, a widow encountered on the streets of New Delhi. "A black president of the U.S. will mean that there will be more American tolerance for people around the world who are different."

The primary race generated unprecedented interest outside the United States, much of it a reflection of a desire for change from the policies of President Bush, who surveys show is deeply unpopular around the globe. At the same time, many people abroad seemed impressed -- sometimes even shocked -- by the wide-open nature of U.S. democracy, and the history-making race between a woman and a black man.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Zhonni]

I can't remember the last time or anytime the world was so happy about the election of an individual.

It feels good that the world is watching and their choice has always been Obama.

[SadButWiser]

American landed a man on the moon, and few years later elected Bush as the president. I still have hard time computing this on my quad Xeon system. My brain went numb when I tried.

[wm1066]

Take a deep breath and remember we didn't elect him, it was stolen, both times.

[SeriousBlack]

Well, look at it this way - we got hit by a nasty virus. But we now have the patch for it and after a good hard reboot our system will be back on track.

Sorry - I'm a computer geek :)

[SadButWiser]

This time you did not just release a patch, you have revamped and released an entirely new version. :)

[eden4barack08]

This is exactly the RIGHT way to show the world what true Democracy is all about! Only when we practice what we preach do we set good examples.
The Bush way of exporting democracy ( Gross failure) , has made us lose that respect, but thru this, we'll get it back and then some!

GOD BLESS THE USA!
VIVA OBAMA!

[ThatBKChick]

As a disabled veteran from the first Gulf/Persian War, an African American woman w/ a graduate degree, everyone assumed that we should be jumping up and down &singing "Free at last" and acting as this is the best thing that has happened since slavery ended. But I must share with the blogsphere and the world, that it is not that at all. Most of us are not celebrating, but fearful. The fear of racist and bigotry that could possibly take down the most talented politician and rightful winner of the Democratic Presidential Nominee and possibly President of the United States, still does not take the fear away, that at any time from now and even if he becomes President of United States, we still hold our breathe, never having the conventional confidence of ever knowing he will die. What the Clinton's have done to this country, white women, and the contrived overtures of Bobby Kennedy's fate, as sub-consciousness relation to Obama, still shows there is still deep seeded racial problems that still exist, even in the supposedly most liberal of people in this country. It's sad, that even though individuals will not come right out and say that I not voting for him because he is black, historically this country has painted blacks as angry militants, or communists, or "inadequate" individuals.... look at this post, and look at the Clintons & then still understand, that blacks and African Americans are not celebrating as we should as all Americans.

[db08]

Have faith sister...if we did not believe in ourselves and our fellow human beings, African Americans would still be enslaved and trapped by Jim Crow. We will probably always have racial problems and racial hatred but that has never stopped us and the country and world has been a better place for our persistence and faith. This is a lesson the so-called Hillary's women could learn from.

I pray for Obama, his family, this country, and the world everyday.

On another note, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

[allheart72]

I hear you loud and clear. I understand why you feel this way. But remember, Americans and especially African Americans have been through much worse...slavery, Jim Crow laws, etc. and we have ALWAYS managed to overcome obstacles. It takes time and it is difficult but possible.

[MaeScott]

I'm an american woman who happens to be black. I started out for HRC. Her platform changed as the primary wore on. You all know why. I'm not celebrating just because Sen. O is black, I'm celebrating because the most emphathetic, trustworthy, and best candidate won. I saved the headlines of the past few days and hope to save more in January!

Donate to the DNC.

[mom2sons]

Yes, the world is watching. They are hopeful once again. When he is elected, it will show that there is someone who is compassionate and cares about the peoples of the world. When are we going to stop the genocide and wars that are killing people on every continent? It is very sad. Obama brings many things to the table as a person, but without hope people have nothing. Obama 08

[NewArtz]

One of America's most valid exports have always been seen as our "intellectual properties" - movies, TV, dvd's, cd's - a selling of the American viewpoint of culture. However, the rest of the world has seen the fruits of our intelligence through the empowerment of George W. Bush. We do not appear intelligent because we have empowered the foolish. There is a great deal of intelligent wisdom in this country, and if they are our elite, may it not be based on financial gain. If we could intelligently farm the problem solving capacity of those whose intelligence does not betray them, then we can be great again. The election of Barack Obama to the presidency will be the first step in the Wising Up of America.

[southafrica4obama]

I like your line,"We do not appear intelligent because we have empowered the foolish [Bush]. " The world is celebrating I can tell you. It's a moment that everyone has been waiting for--given the stereotypes of America around the world. Americans are excited too.

[MikeDu]

Even Lieberman agrees with this idea. Remember he said Hamas (or was that Hezbollah?) would rejoice at Obama's election. He neglected to mention EVERYONE on the planet, whether friend or foe, will be mighty relieved to see the doorknob hit Bush in the ass on his way out of office. Even Bush's Saudi prince backers are sick to death of the guy. Obama won't have to try particularly hard to be a better president that Cheney - I mean Bush.

[Sali68]

My friends in England were very supportive of Hillary and Barack but they soon felt that Obama was the better opponent...her obliterate Iran...they are tired of war.

[Chavez08]

Most people overseas are far more informed, educated than 90% of the U.S. populice, this isn't meant as an insult, - just a cold reality.

If we Americans continue on this path of corporate brainwash and political ignorance, we will seal our fates as slaves forever come November. That's not an opinion, it's a histrorically-based fact.

[biglover]

Amen to you Chavez08. I agree

[mairs]

And most people overseas don't have a news blackout as we do in the US. If you don't get your news from the Internet it is fed to you by the MSM and anything that the government doesn't want us to see is simply ignored by the news media as if it doesn't exist. We even have different covers and stories removed from magazines that the rest of the world sees but the American people are shielded from if it's not in the best interests of the Administration and corporations. We are captive and kept ignorant unless we go outside the bounds of TV and newspaper info gathering.

[fanchon1288]

MSM and their b.s. reporting. Michelle Obama gave her husband a thumbs up. According to MSM she meant I've got your back boo. You're my boo, Really, since when did we start using street lingo on this type of platform? I don't often watch MSM because of what they report. World information is important and they should report it.

[allheart72]

I hear you telling the truth!! Americans need to stop living in denial and being so sensitive. We should be able to handle criticism...and there is plenty of it to go around. How can we better oursleves if we can not even admit where we went wrong??

America we need to step up our game!!!

[gditty]

.....FIST BUMP....

[XME]

It would seem that there's one thing the entire planet can agree on...Bush has been bad for our foreign relations. If other countries see Obama as more open-minded and tolerant of other's views, it can only help us. You can be tough AND open-minded (despite what conservatives may think) and when you're not open-minded and tolerant as a country, it only makes fighting off terrorism that much harder. In that respect, I think McCain would only damage our foreign relations more.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Multitasking is not a neo-con trait. Diplomacy is viewed as a sign of weakness. Must act strong by beating chest and sending someone else's kid to die in a war that I started.

[flyguy14222]

Hey. Where is the headline regarding former Obama fund raiser being found guilty on 16 Federal corruption charges? Cripes....Hillary sips a bourbon and HuffPo screams that one.

[keepemhonest]

I want to know where is the headline regarding McCain‘s foremost economic adviser, now his campaign‘s general co-chair, Former-Sen. Phil Gramm, who is the likeliest choice for Treasury Secretary under McCain. During the time Gramm was advising McCain on housing, on mortgages, on the economy & fundraising for McCain ...

- Gramm was STILL lobbying for the UBS Investment Bank,
- Gramm was STILL being paid to try to defeat Senate bills to help people victimized by the mortgage crisis to save their own homes,
- Gramm was STILL fighting to help the banks and screw the homeowners.

It should be noted here that Phil Gramm became a paid employee of UBS AFTER he got out of the Senate ... the London Financial Times has reported that UBS has told its bankers not to travel to the U.S., out of concern they may be arrested as part of the on going investigations of alleged tax evasion schemes involving UBS clients.

[bdl0715]

You mean Tony Rezko, who the feds found NO link between Obama and his criminality?

[MaeScott]

Lord, don't let us start in with McSame and his campaign filled w/ lobbyist (chuck this, chuck that one...)

[MissingAmerica]

It would appear that the U.S. is not the only country wanting a new and better world. May this miracle continue and in time heal the wounds the Bush administration has caused. The next miracle would be to begin impeachment hearings. Then again, I guess one miracle at a time should be enough!

[truthoutdotduh]

Oh give me a break! Obama is not the miracle, nor is he the Messiah that this country so desperately needs! At best, he just may be a step in the right direction. But also, don't forget the fact that this is not November yet, and he is not yet president.

And even if he can outwit the very ruthless Carl Rove, you still have Diebold voting machines to worry about. My point is there are still many hurdles to clear, and mountains to climb before we will ever see if he is in fact the real deal or some semblance of such.

He has already pandered to AIPAC, which should raise a few red flags that he may in fact be a member in good standing with the status-quo crowd. Change? We'll see. As the title states, many overseas see it as, (key word) a *CHANCE* for new direction. A CHANCE! Not a done deal!

Only time will tell . . . Sorry, but my optimism for America was severely damaged long before the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

[Zeje]

I agree. I'm upset about it, but I have to agree.

[k6007]

Even as he 'pandered' to Aipac, he also stressed how important MUTUAL peace is to the region. That is a lot better than what the other two stated. O is the only presidential candidate, that even MENTIONED the other factions in this primary season.

[mairs]

We're not looking for a Messiah. Someone called a talk show on the radio yesterday. He said Obama is no hero here to save us. I would say, no he is not a hero. We don't need someone to save us, we need someone to empower us to believe that we can save ourselves. We need someone who can make us believe we have the tools to get the job done.

Hillary kept saying she would work hard for us, she would do this and that. Obama says WE can do it. I know how his campaign works hard to involved every supporter, I'm hoping that if he is president he will be equally skillful in involving us in taking our country back. I can hope.

[SeriousBlack]

But surely you can see how big a difference there is between Obama and Bush/McCain, can't you?

If there is to be ANY hope for us, surely giving Obama a chance to at least try is the right thing to do, wouldn't you agree?

Plus, there is the old concept that one has to at least believe change is possible in order to succeed. So let's choose to believe in hope and if we/Obama fails, then at least we tried.

[TLV]

Let's get on with the necessary task of winning back the respect of our allies. Vote Democratic.

[LannyMacD]

I hope people remember that the international community held the same hopes for America (for different reasons) and we managed to disappoint in the end. Let's hope that ths time around we don't fuck it up and leave the international community shaking ther heads again.

[richardgordon]

Obama is the right President for these complicated times. In a multi-racial-ethnic world with the increasing power and influence of China and India (as well as many of the other developing economies) America can no longer afford to be viewed as a white centric country. Obama's election will vastly improve America's image internationally.