Last night Emma and I went for an ice-cream run to the little grocery store in our apartment complex. When we first moved here the couple that runs the place seemed suspicious of us and rather gruff. But I used my not-so-good Chinese to tell them that we were Americans, and ever since they have been friendly, and giggle, amused, when I carefully pronounce the amount of money I have to pay in an attempt to practice Chinese.
So last night after we paid for our ice-cream bars the husband started to talk to me. I understood only one word, "mei guo", which is "America". I thought he was asking me if we were American, maybe he hadn't understood me the first time, but when I told him we were American again, he kept talking. I stood there with a confused look on my face as I tried to tell him I didn't understand. He persisted, and finally it dawned on me that there was one more word I understood: Obama. My look of confusion changed to one of recognition as I blurted out, "Obama!" "Obama!" he repeated and I gave him two thumbs up as we exchanged smiles. It seems that even a shop keeper in China is interested in the American presidential election.
I don't know exactly what our grocer was saying to me. Maybe he was saying that he can't believe we would elect Obama for president. But one thing is for sure: the entire world watched as our country elected, for the first time, a man with African heritage, for the most conspicuous and powerful job on earth. People from countries which hold no elections saw Americans choose a new kind of president and new party to represent us, illustrating that in a democracy, the country can change direction peacefully and by the will of the people. Even if they don't like the country's choice, the message is still there, that we are a free and inclusive society.
Like it or not, people look at us and often up to us. While it sounds nice to suppose that our election is our own, by Americans and for Americans, we can't ignore the fact that our choice of president is significant to people all over the world. For many, the election of Obama represents change, progress and optimism for the future. Beyond focusing on domestic policies and needs, of which there are obviously many, this election has given us a chance to shine as Americans, a chance to show the world how we really do things. Europeans, Chinese and Africans may not know or understand America's internal issues, and why should they, but they know that our country is not afraid to elect someone who appears different or out of the main stream. This is a powerful message to send to the world, and I'm proud that our nation has done that.
I hope that people from both parties will recognize the significance of this election, even if they don't agree with Obama's policies. That Americans told the world that a candidate like Barack Obama is their choice to represent us is both inspiring and humbling to me. And whatever my Chinese grocer was trying to say to me about it, he obviously knew that it was an important world event. On some level or another, he gets the message, too.
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6 comments:
Holy crap, Lee, it was awesome! And I love that he really is self-made. I think that shows such a clear message of what this country is about - the American dream before our eyes.
Lee, I cannot say enough what a FEELING there is right now. I know Obama isn't perfect, can't fix all of our systemic problems, but the sensation here is electric. And the fact that he really is an amazing SYMBOL is just... I am so proud of us that I can't articulate it. I just hope he's good for the country for four more years.
What a great day for the American people and the world. I was to the point of wanting to move to a European Country or Canada just so I could not idendify as an American. Things are looking up. As for Bush and his buddies, Throw the bums out!!!!
I really liked your thoughts, Lee. I was listening to NPR the other day and they were taking calls from other countries and it brought tears to my eyes to hear people from India, Iraq, Spain, and Australia express such excitement about Obama. It was so interesting. Like you said, they don't see our internal struggles and domestic issues so much as the fact that we elected an African American who talks about peace and unity. That brings hope to people. Some of the callers had really, really, ridiculously high hopes for what Obama was going to do on an international level for the world and just as I was feeling a little overwhelmed, the NPR mediator expressed my feelings by saying that Obama must be feeling a lot of pressure right now if he is paying attention to the world's expectations! It was funny and humbling- to use your word.
Well said, Lee. Even though health care is always number one for me when I'm deciding whom to vote for, this year there was one issue on par with that: reshaping how the rest of the world sees America and how America deals with the rest of the world. In light of that, an Obama victory became very important to me. (...well, and I thought the selection of Sarah Palin was a very unfortunate choice. I have to be honest here!)
Colleeen is right -- the feeling is electric! until you run into someone who is making reactionary "the world is going to end, the socialist anti-christ got elected" types of comments, but whatever. This has been the most exciting election I've ever seen. I wish everyone could feel it.
Lee, ditto to all that has been said. I read and re-read your blog repeatedly, and forwarded your message to friends and colleagues. Very well written!
Obama's message of hope is enormously more compelling than his predecessor's message of fear. World-wide, it appears. I look forward to being part of the fix, as all of us will need to be.
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