Oh dear. It seems that some of the global media have shifted from being overawed to stating the blindingly obvious – which is not to say, of course, that sometimes the blindingly obvious doesn’t include some very good points.
Papers around the world are picking up on a new “kind” of politics in the election of Obama – something to do with charisma, heightened belief in the importance and possibilities of national government, reduced distance between the theoretically possible and the practically realizable. Many are still trying to draw a lesson for their own nations from America’s choice. It makes for a refreshing change, this shift from eight years of “America shouldn’t be doing this” to “How could we do over here what they just did over there?”
Robert Burns’ most famous quote never gets old: “Oh wad some power the giftie gie us, To see oursel’s as others see us!”
Below, the latest Obamoid roundup from the translators and aggregators extraordinaires at Watching America
Il Giornale, Italy
He’s Just a President. Not the Messiah
The divinization of politics (and, extensively, of those who do it) is one of the greatest shams of the modern era.
La Stampa, Italy
Obama and Berlusconi’s “Cordial Phone Call”
Le Temps, Switzerland
America’s New Image
Paris-Match, France
Anti-Americanism and Obamania
La Libre Belgique, Belgium
Obama’s Election Fuels Firearms Sales
Die Zeit, Germany
Political Dreams vs. Political Realities
Le Monde, France
Moral Leadership Rediscovered
El Comercio Digital, Spain
The False Feminism of Sarah Palin
Le Journal du Centre, France
We Are Almost American
Junge Freiheit, Germany
A Poisoned Inheritance
Moheet, Egypt
The Wheel of Democracy Is Not Going Backwards
Al Massae, Morocco
Dream Comes True After 45 Years
The American society has finally managed to untie major part of the apartheid complex knot that has been harming its image throughout history.
ABC, Spain
Let Loose
Jerusalem Post, Israel
Obama’s Win Promotes Democracy in the Arab World
Middle East Times, Egypt
Let’s Keep Future Campaigns Clean
Staying focused, addressing the real issues and speaking the truth worked. Spreading lies about your opponent obviously did not.
Sotal Iraq, Iraq
Who Will Bring Iraq Together?
NDTV Khabar, India
From “Change We Can Believe in” to “Yes, We Can”
There were many issues raised on Obama’s election which probably don’t just affect the politics in any democratic country, but also decides candidacy.
Yazhou Zhoukan, Hong Kong
Obama’s Literary Grace
Daily Jang, Pakistan
New U.S. Government Should Use Brain, Not Brawn
Oriental Morning Post, China
Obama Holds Calls With Nine Allies
Edinstvo, North and South Ossetia
Obama’s Presidency and Russia
MacLeans, Canada
Who’s on Top for 2056?
Now that the presidential race has become a non-stop, all-encompassing industry unto itself, big-league pundits and political operatives are focusing waaay further into the future.
Jordan Times, Jordan
The Ever-Elusive Hope
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Where Should Obama Start in the Mideast?
New Era, Namibia
Obama Day Would be Appropriate
The Observer, The Gambia
President Jammeh Congratulates Obama
The Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Obama and the ‘Tyranny of Oil’
Obama made his promise to the American people, but the global community also took it as a promise to them.
The Nation, Pakistan
Obama’s Call
Asahi Shimbun, Japan
Japan in the Obama Era
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.