Comments on: A Changed World

By: karen

karen — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:59:20 +0000

As an American living abroad for over 8 years, I can definetly say that the election has directly affected me. It’s shameful to say but – I have Never voted! Not interested in politics, a childish, but honestly true fact until i was Obamasized. I found myself biking to the post office twice to get my ballot in, glued to the television and truly moved by what he had to say. So proud to identify MY president as a president who didn’t appear to be a Mad Magazine characteur every time he spoke. It brought out my feeling of “Yes we can” – great slogan by the way, and made me realize – i need to get involved to affect the outcome – participate to reap the benefits. In short…..Obamasize Me!

By: marta

marta — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:00:32 +0000

OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
Well, I am sure he will disappoint us sooner or later. He’s a polititian, and I am sure his hands are tied in many more ways than we can imagine. But, just the surge of hope and buen rollo (feel good momentum..) he has given the whole freaking world, is worthy of his 8 years in office.

He has already been curtsy and bold with the banking world, which I approve of, and I admire him for not rendering his will to the money making individuals in this world.

He has said he will be very open to talks with Iran.
He wil contemplate and respect the Islamic world, and not immediately label it as terrorist. He will try to understand instead, which I believe, makes hima very very wise man. And that’s why we all love him. Because for once, there’s someone in the politocal arena who is as close as he can to beinh honest, truthful and daring. And people only follow leaders who convey these qualities. Yes, we love Obama.

There’s this quote I read by him. And OMG, was I flabbergasted! It goes like this:

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.”

If the leader of the world, really thinks this, I am sure we are all in very very good hands. We shall see, and we DO hope.

By: thebonobo

thebonobo — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:44:17 +0000

i travel to poorer countries a lot. the Bush years meant that i had to rely on my American chauvinism – the confidence that comes from knowing that, at the very least, these people need my money – in the face of foreigners’ disdain for my “homeland.” i can’t express how much better it is to have this fuzzy, warm blanket of American good will cloaking me now. if i have to be a tourist, may i at least be one who represents something positive for those i invade.

By: jacki

jacki — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:26:16 +0000

thanks for the comments everyone! i remember a times op-ed piece right after the election warning of the eventual letdown that we would all face the first time obama disappoints us. this message should also be broadcast to the world. let’s just hope, as courtney said above, that our government is smart and able with this real political capital.

By: Joie Jager-Hyman

Joie Jager-Hyman — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:09:47 +0000

I lived in Scotland for a few months during the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal and I remember noticing how Europeans were so pro-Clinton (and mostly pro-America) at the time. Fast forward a few years to my next visit in 2003, which could have been a study in contrasts. Everyone I met seemed to want to lecture me about how America was ruining the world. I didn’t feel comfortable being put on the defensive about American foreign policy and would have preferred to tell people that I was Canadian–but I knew that I’d be even more embarrassed when I inevitably got caught in a lie and reinforced the “self-centered American” stereotype by not knowing very much about our neighbor to the north.

I settled on introducing myself as being from NEW YORK, immediately followed by a statement that I have always been against the war in Iraq.

But I’m so happy to hear that things have changed. Thanks for this post, Jacki! Very uplifting to the aspiring traveler.

Just one more reason that I need to plan another trip to Europe…

By: Courtney E. Martin

Courtney E. Martin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:24:33 +0000

Great post Jaclyn. I’m so glad we have your perspective on the blog. And I’m thrilled to hear first-hand how excited one part of the global community is about Obama. We’ve heard the rumors over here, but I sort of couldn’t believe it. Let’s just hope that he and Hill can continue to move the U.S. in the cool kid direction of diplomacy.

By: anni

anni — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:03:51 +0000

I am from Australia and I have to say we are all Obama crazy over here too. Many of my friends were heard saying as the the election crept closer: “Right now I wish I was American so that I could vote for Obama!”, really, that is not something you would normally hear down here.

He hasn’t just inspired a nation, he really has inspired a world. And I think this is the beauty of Obama, more than what he can bring to America, but his ability to bring people together from across borders. I do believe that many more young people in Australia have been inspired to have a go at politics because of Obama, and we can only hope that this includes young indidgenous people (which I have an exciting feeling it may have) and women.

So I woudld like to say a big Thank You, not only to Obama, but to American people for voting him in, because it has helped to boost my faith in the goodness of people, and is living proof that my favorite quote is true: “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the onyl thing that ever has.”