Whatever, I'll Admit It. I'm Jealous of America for Snagging Obama
A few days I ago I posted a blog questioning the hype surrounding Obama. I'm Canadian and we tend to be a bit more cautious with our praise. Plus, we're not used to politician rock stars. Although some of my politically minded friends would kill me for saying this, Canadian politics are deathly boring.
Then I watched the inauguration and everything changed. I was amazed at first. Amazed at the crowds and the excitement and the sheer energy of millions of people gathering together in jubilation. It was heartening and inspiring and hopeful.
But. Then. Suddenly, so suddenly, the feeling changed. It was slow and sneaky and started with a kind of sinking feeling in my heart. Before I knew it, it was taking over and spreading through my limbs and out of my mouth. It was the green-eyed monster at its worst. It was sheer, unadulterated, gargantuan envy radiating out and filling the room.
Yes, America. I'll admit it. For the first time in a very long time, I find myself envious of the United States and I'm not too proud to say it: I'm insanely jealous.
Jealous that a political rally could gather millions and millions of people like this.
Jealous that you get a parade and ten galas to welcome a new president.
Jealous of legendary stars like Aretha Franklin claiming the United States as her home.
Jealous of the magnificent ritual surrounding the inauguration. Jealous that America has found new hope. Jealous that Americans get to re-make themselves. Jealous that you have a fresh hero to look up to. Jealous of Michelle Obama's beautiful golden robes and all that her look implied. Royalty. Dignity. Intelligence. Leadership. Warmth. I am jealous of it all.
Most of all, I am jealous of Obama's cool, calm assurance. Jealous of his ability to lift the country, the nation, and the world with his oration. Jealous of the kind of citizenship he is inspiring in his people. Jealous of his ability to make working hard, service, and community seem fun, inspiring, and most importantly, the duty of all humanity. Jealous that Obama is not our leader here in the cold, white north.
Obama is a modern day Tom Sawyer. He makes painting the fence look so fun and so enjoyable, everyone wants to grab a brush and join in. Even though things are grim in America right now, I think you've all hit the jackpot. You have a leader who brings out the best in you, instead of the worst. When you make it through this mess, you will be a better nation. So, to my neighbors south of the border, I say, you are one lucky country. Enjoy it and Congratulations.
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As a Canadian living in the U.S. I have found myself with mixed emotions since the inauguration. I am excited to be living in this country during such an interesting and inspiring period in time. However, as someone who is able who live within, while still looking out, I found myself nervous for the current president and U.S. citizens. The idolization of Obama is frightening, he is but ONE man, albeit one with an excessive amount of power and a plethora of admirable qualities. However, no one, not even Obama will be able to live up to the standards imposed on him unless the people of the United States go beyond simply voting for this man and actually work to help him implement his goals for change. One of these goals is that people look out for one another and with regard to to this I suggest that Americans take a look to their neighbors to the North is this area; thinking about your fellow citizen is one the things I miss most about Canada.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, many here in the US still are plenty jealous of our neighbors to the north; national health care, marriage equality for everyone, no stain of the Bush administration to name just a few examples.
As a canuck, there are many things I am not jealous of. I am extraordinarily pleased that we have no law limiting abortions (but access to abortion is an issue); that we have no debate whatsoever about gay marriage; and of course, that we have universal health care. I am jealous, or more aptly, happy, relieved and inspired, that the US has chosen a President, the most powerful person in the world, who is always going to be the smartest person in the room; who is and will continue to be the most inspirational speaker in the world; and who has already demonstrated through actions his commitment to important progressive change. I urge the chattering class to resist the urge the chip away at Obama by pitting the perfect against the good; be confident and patient (and yes, continue to make your voices heard), but give the man some space and time.
i'm joining in this international love fest.. we seriously need to decriminalize pot and lower the drinking age like you did! we might have 'bama, but you have poutine, and poutine rocks! go canada
You have very sussinctly said all of the things I feel as an American, but insert the word "grateful" instead of "jealous", "relieved" instead of "envious", and you'll have exactly what so many Americans are now feeling about our own country again.
Thank you so much! Your article brought tears to my eyes--the first time this political season, believe it or not. Even though I worked like heck for Obama's election, and I was one of the millions on the mall last week, I do not shed tears easily, but you did it for me. You articulated how I feel. As a child, I was devastated by having John Kennedy snatched away from us, after inspiring us in all the ways you wrote. I didn't know it would take most of my lifetime before we would see another such president. And this one is proving even better than Kennedy. He is seriously attempting to turn our government back over to us, the citizens, after decades of our nation's course being hijacked by the powerful and greedy. Maybe this time we will safeguard the treasure for good.
There is always a good place in the world for a good charismatic and good looking politician. Someone who gives hope for millions of people. Our friends south of the border elected one. Hopefully the future is going to be as good as the hopes of the people who elected him.
Interesting perspective conveyed in this article and very well articulated.
Clearly we in Canada, join the world in admiring this
youthful, charismatic and dynamic leader. It is wonderful to witness the majesty of the inauguration and one can not help but be awestruck at the peaceful transfer of power. However, the real test will be in the days and weeks to come. However, it does raise the question as to whether our global expectations for this leader are so high that they can not be met.
I was telling my mother the other day that other politicians must be very jealous of Obama - they could never inspire this many people. In fact, his opponents and frenemies must have been jealous and scared pupuless on the day of the inauguration. Those weren't just supporters or fans, but Obama's own personal army.
That's absolutely why his opponents were so terribly vitriolic during the election campaign......out and out jealousy that they themselves could never have accomplished what this unique man has done.
I remember Obama's staff saying that Barack wanted to reinvigorate the electorate when he decided to run for POTUS. To make them care once more about our country.
It was the younger people that took to him right away and didn't give up on him when things looked bad during the campaign. I'm proud of them. They weren't as cynical as the older people and they allowed the older people to catch up...or the cynical to understand him better, so that they could see what they saw in our President. I'm proud of America's youth for fighting for him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QigRkg9G8
You're simply wonderful.
Too bad you were not around during Pierre Trudeau, especially early, days. The Trudeaumania was a thrilling time in Canada - love him or hate him today there is no denying his time was surrounded by much excitement (take his clashes with the FLQ and PQ as one example). Meech lake, debates on Free Trade, Quebec refs, proroguing, reconsitution, resurgence of the west (ie Reform), to name only a few are real issues with huge implications going on for the last 20years in Canadian politics. They are exciting because the political ground beneath our feet is constantly shifting. American politics during this same period of time has moved much slower. That is only why politics in the US can be considered exciting at all right now. Only recently have many tuned in since Sept.11 (or during the whole Clinton fling thing) and with the excitement that something really different was happening in the last election. But it all of these are viewed with a slight soap opera-ish perspective with little serious discourse. I don't envy that.
I'm glad Obama won. Very glad in fact. But this hype has gone overboard and runs the risk of losing focus on key issues plaguing the US. So far I have seen a lot of style, now he has to deliver on the substance - which I'm sure he will.
We now know that we have made the wrong choice....when other countries become jealous. America's goal should not be to please the welfare states of the world.
This is the most illogical statement I've heard in sometime ................... And I thought I'd heard it all from Republicans during the campaign.
GJefferson, is obviously a member of the Limbaugh's "Club Of Dimentia".
To the contrary, this is exactly what we should be hoping to inspire in other countries.
Pleasing the "welfare states" should not be a goal. However, listening when your friends and neighbours tell you important truths might not be a bad thing.
The Canadians are not the only ones who are jealous. After 8 years of hearing constant ridicule of America, Americans and the American nation here in the UK, suddenly the Brits want on the bandwagon and are claiming Obama as their own. They're all but queueing up to be the 51st state. I took exception to someone on another site (a Brit) claiming that 'WE (as in the British) need an amazing President' ... Er, pardon me, but don't they have a Prime Minister and a Queen? Then watching the appalling BBC coverage of the Inauguration, I see them interview a woman in North London saying that 'now me two daugh'er wanna be President'. (Sorry, love, they can't). It amazes me that, for the past 8 years, Bush was distinctively 'YOUR President', but now apparently Obama belongs to them as well. Cherry-pickers, the lot of them, and how ironic that the old Mother Country should now want to embrace and be a part of the Colonies. I'm reminded of Bill Maher's New Rule in the final episode of last season's Real Time. They're jealous of the fact that we got it right and elected the right man for the right job, because of that, and not because of a gimmick. It dispels every notion they had ever had of Americans actually coming together for a constructive purpose. Oh, and the BBC coverage was pretty dire too - misinformation and commentators talking over the proceedings. Jealousy, anyone?
I'm American, and I didn't want to own George Bush as my President. I certainly wouldn't expect the Brits to want to.
If by cherry-picking you mean they reject what's bad and embrace what's good, well then yes, I should hope that they do cherry-pick? Why the heck don't you?
Well, I mean this, and I've lived here for almost 28 years so I speak with some authority. The British are very 'politically correct'. They embraced that term and use it as though they invented it. However, since I've lived here, there's one minority (and about 500,000 American expats live here for one reason or another) who's fair game for some pretty dire remarks: Americans. Under Reagan, Bush 41 and Clinton, the general consensus was that Americans were 'stupid'. Quite succinctly. Blair's people sent all sorts to the US to study and work with Clinton on the chance of adapting 'Welfare to Work' for the British when they came to power. The media here and the people dissed it and it was thrown out. Bill Clinton popular here? Not while he was in Office. It was only after Bush 43 came in that the thirst for Clinton here became rampant. But this is the first time since coming here, they've been openly jealous of our choice of leader. They simply and quite succinctly thought that we didn't have the foresight, the intelligence or the maturity to choose a black man as POTUS simply because he was the best man for the job. That irks them, believe me. It does.
Yes, as a Canadian I can admit that presently our politics seem completely pedestrain in comparison to the pomp and pageantry of the American election. Our "fun factor" comes from politician's humourous forays on the Rick Mercer report. It's just not the same as Beyonce serenading the first couple...but I still love Canada!!
Inspiration knows no national boundaries. If the prodigal brother to your south has come back to the fold, I'd say you have every right to rejoice.
Leeat, you forgot Pierre Elliot Trudeau...he might have been an older version of Prez. Obama, but he did inspire us with his charisma, intellect, and his sex appeal. This Canadian refers to Prez. Obama as my President also and yes I too am jealous that we have no one of his calibre to represent us in Canada.
There's a whole lot of us who are able to sleep at night now that Obama has taken office.....I'm sure one of them!
This article makes me even more proud of America, her citizens, and her very promising new leader. God bless and protect Obama.....and his wonderful family.
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