From the stalwarts at Watching America come another batch of links about our new planet, Obamaworld.
The elation is dying down, and the soft pendulum swing associated with “OMG, isn’t there a lot to do” and even “Obama isn’t god” is definitely beginning….
However, another strong theme, sometimes explicit, sometimes implicit, is the extraordinarily fast re-establishment of America as the country to be held up as an example of what the rest of the world needs to be doing: whether it is Africa, and what they have to learn about the process that brought one of their own to (perhaps) the most powerful office in the world or Europe, and the mirror on their indecisiveness, lack of self-assertion, or ability to get anything done fast.
It’s almost as if the shining city upon the hill has turned on its lights again, and now everyone’s way is just that little better lit…
ABC, Spain
Welcome Mister Obama
Thanks to globalization and the Internet, the “cambio que necesitamos”—the change we need—and the “sí, se puede”—yes, we can—have become contagious throughout the planet in a way that borders on idolatry.
Junge Freiheit, Germany
A Poisoned Inheritance
Bild Zeitung, Germany
No German Army Deployment in Southern Afghanistan
Social Democratic Party (SPD) whip Peter Struck says he rejects any escalation of German military participation in the southern areas of Afghanistan despite Barack Obama’s election as President of the United States
Les Echos, France
America: From Anxiety to Hope
Le Journal du Centre, France
The Secretary of State Is Under a Spell
Crónica de Hoy, Mexico
Did Condoleezza Come for the Drug Dealer?
(nothing directly to do with Obama, but in these times of transition, interesting nonetheless)
La Stampa, Italy
Europe Has Yet to Learn from America
At the moment, the greatest mistake we could make would be to say, just as in September 2001, “We are all Americans!”
Oriental Morning News, China
Why Obama Should Thank Bush
Ummat, Pakistan
The Role of the New American President in Establishing Peace!
TVBS, Taiwan
Scholars Say Taiwan Policy Not Likely To Change
Since the U.S. needs to rely on China’s assistance in solving issues in Iran, North Korea, and Sudan, its stance toward Taiwan would not change drastically.
People, China
Obama Will Not Change USA
Huan Qiu, China
Obama’s Success Today Is Thanks to the Rule of Law
Financial Times, U.K.
Obama Set to Push “Big Bang” Reforms
Economist, United Kingdom
Great Expectations
Jerusalem Post, Israel
A New World (And World Disorder)
Globa and Mail, Canada
Does No One Remember Hillary?
Mr. Obama won the presidency when he sidelined Hillary, when the comet pushed aside the star.
MacLeans, Canada
The Obama Revolution
The Yemen Times, Yemen
Obama and the Remaking of History
The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Time to End Bush’s Wretched War
The Guardian, Nigeria
Obasanjo on Obama: Two Faces and a Forked Tongue
The Sunday Independent, South Africa
Africa and Obama
Mmegi Online, Botswana
Obama: A People’s Dignity
This Day, Nigeria
New Dawn for the U.S.
Africa has a lot to be proud of in the election of Obama. But more importantly, it has much to learn from the way and manner the election was conducted.
Daily Trust, Nigeria
Obama’s Victory: A Lesson For Us
Independent, U.K.
Obama: Enlightened but Not Liberal
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.
Everyone Wants a Special Relationship with Obama
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.
British PM: U.S. has Embraced Values of Progress
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.
America Tunes into Obama
The Times, U.K.
Welcome Back, America
Globe and Mail, Canada
Lessons from the McCain Campaign
The Times of India, India
Indian Congressman: Obama Received Divine Help
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.