A World View of Obama's Victory

Article Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122592900344403049.html#project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB122587056409501237%26articleTabs%3Darticle

Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 Presidential Election will and have had an impact on the rest of the world. This particular article concentrates on the fact that Presidential elect, Obama, is not only considered the United States' next leader, but as a potential worldly leader. As we have been discussing in class, this election affects not only the US, but many other countries around the world. One of Germany's tabloids had a front page headline reading, "Good Morning Mr. President -- Make the world better!" It looks like Obama will have a lot of pressure on him to not only help the US out of a crisis, but attend to other nations; we have set high expectations for him. Now that Obama has been named the upcoming 44th President, these countries are expressing concerns about what he plans to do in his term.



While many countries are thrilled that America has finally broken the tradition of a white president, some have sent out "warnings." Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, critiqued the US foreign policy " throwing down the gauntlet to the incoming president." While Afganistan leader, President Hamid Karzai, demands that he end civilian casualties. Obama plans to concentrate more military in Afganistan;China and India are concerned with the trade policies. It looks like he wont be able to please everyone here.
On the other hand, many are happy about America's choice. Obama's village in Kenya, where his late father is native and other family resides, there has been celebration as well as in other places around the world. Many countries see our nation's choice as step in the right direction. An Iranian woman says, "I suddenly have newfound respect for America's democracy and ideals. I wish I was American because this would never happen in our part of the world." Many people are impressed with the fact that America, a nation that started off with the institution of slavery, could have come to electing an African American person into Presidency. Its been a long time coming.
The article ends quoting a veteran German diplomat: "Not even Santa Claus can fulfill all these wishes."

Questions for thought:

Do you think that too many expectations are being put on Obama for the next term?

Why do you think he is already being considered a "world leader"?

What is your reaction to other nations views on Obama?

Do you think we should be worried about what other nations think about our choice or should we be more concerned with what is going on in America?

Election Day 2008

It’s over. The longest and most expensive presidential campaign in U. S. history ended last night with Barack Obama’s clear victory, both in the electoral and popular vote. His victory did not come easy; he had to outfight formidable opponents in Hillary Clinton and John McCain and persuade Americans that he had the ability to lead them in tough times. But the precision and professionalism with which he and his advisors ran his campaign made him the decisive winner and gave America its first African American president. It was a stunning moment, especially for people like me who vividly remember that less than fifty years ago, segregation was legal in the South and de facto segregation was pervasive in the North. Barack Obama’s victory does not mark the end of racism in the United States, but I think that it marks the beginning of the end.

This election galvanized voters of all parties. Everywhere I went yesterday, people sported “I Voted” stickers and were eager to discuss the election. My husband and I went to West Springfield High School at 7:15 AM to vote and found that the line was already snaking its way out of the building. But despite the early hour and the long line, people were upbeat and talkative, energized (in part) by the coffee and baked goods volunteers were selling outside, but mostly by a keen awareness that we were taking part in a historic election. Our long line moved swiftly, and in less than an hour, my husband and I were inside the school and voting. The use of scannable paper ballots made it possible for more people to vote at once, and this new voting method kept the line moving and frustration low. What about you? What happened when you went to vote?

On Mason’s campus, the weather was dreary and damp, but spirits were high.

Student Government ran vans to the Woodson High School polling place, and volunteers promoted this service by becoming “human advertisements.”

Rain apparently, does not damper revolutions!


This guy stole my heart!

Our university was not without its own drama. Yesterday morning, a hacker broke into the Provost’s email account and sent out a fake message announcing that the election had been moved to November 5th. Rumors circulated that Mason students who voted could lose their financial aid.

But such lame attempts proved ineffective against the smart and savvy youthful voters who went to the polls in record numbers. Your demographic – voters between the ages of 18 and 25 – voted overwhelmingly for Obama and helped power him to victory. Now it’s your turn to act upon that mandate and consider how you will help him guide our nation toward economic recovery, energy reform, and improved security both at home and abroad.

How will you meet the challenge Obama made to all Americans in his victory speech last night that change can’t happen without “a new spirit of patriotism, a new spirit of sacrifice?” How has this election influenced your outlook on the future and the role you will play in it as a working professional?