Dancing In the Streets

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It has taken this long for the election of Barrack Obama as the 44th president of the United States to sink in. The elation was surrealistic. The implications are many. In this article, dancing in the streets.

What especially struck me in the 10+ days following November 4 was the global celebration of Obama’s election. That was also the single most mentioned phenomenon by those with whom I’m in regular contact. History has never seen a global celebration of US presidential election results. Imagine that! Why in 2008 are people around the world overjoyed with the election of Barrack Obama?

The world has become smaller with the exponential advance in information technology. As the world’s sole superpower, events and policy decisions in the US flash across the world in real time, directly affecting the fortunes of populations worldwide.

George W. Bush was America’s face around the world. His is the America seen by much of the world as imperialistic, politically motivated, mistrusted, bullying, reckless and greedy. America had a kinder face before the ascension of Bush-Cheney. Barrack Obama is seen as the ultimate personification of America’s kinder face. Thus, the jubilation. Imagine how much we are despised around the world. The global poll for US president was a landslide for Obama. Citizens of the world knew that John McCain was more of the Bush Republican policies while Barack Obama was different – he offered and personified change. Thus, the jubilation. A small village in Kenya celebrated the son of one of its own elected president of the United States. Thus, the jubilation. He whose administration has brought the world to the precipice of an economic collapse will relinquish power to a president whose party left us a budget surplus in 2000. Thus, the jubilation. Citizens of the world saw the most powerful man in the world as a bad guy. The most powerful man in the world will soon be President of the United States Barrack Obama. Thus, the jubilation.

History shows us that the great presidents have taken office at a time of national crisis. Thus, the jubilation.