The Obama Symbol

http://watchingamerica.com/News/12971/the-obama-symbol/

Le Monde, France

The Obama Symbol

By Shegun Bakari

The U.S. has just shown that one can be many. It is now up to us, the rest of the world, to demonstrate that this is also possible outside the U.S.

France - Le Monde - Original Article (French)



The wave has broken. Since November 4th all newspapers, televisions and radio stations speak only of Obama, the first American president of mixed blood, with a non Anglo-Saxon family name: Tremendous! Exceptional! Historical!

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Also, it is necessary that this election be a message of hope for Farid, a mixed-blood, Franco-Algerian who chose the religion of Catholicism, who lives in Alger and who deeply loves his Algerian country. This election must resonate in the ears of Peter, a young, white man of 20 years, a descendant of an Afrikaner who lives in Cape Town, who studies political science and who one day aspires to steer the “Rainbow nation”. Obama also must provide hope for Matthew, a brilliant homosexual, with a degree in political science, who is preparing for entrance into the School of National Administration (ENA), and who hopes to one day return to Correze, his county of origin, with his friend, in order to practice politics at the local level.

Yes! Obama is the hope for millions of men and women throughout the world. The U.S., by choosing Obama, has shown once again that they are the precursors of the progress of humanity. It’s up to all other countries and civilizations to follow the step of the U.S.

Humanity will have succeeded at following the calling of the "free world" when Farid is able to freely aspire to political functions in Algeria without one discrediting him based on his mixed blood, his religion, or the color of the skin of his country. The world will have succeeded if, one day, Peter, the white, South African, gets elected in his predominantly black country because of his convictions and not because of the color of his skin. We will have lifted the challenge when Matthew achieves his political ambition in Correze without the need to publicly renounce, (that he likes) his outlook.

The U.S. has just shown that one can be many. It is now up to us, the rest of the world, to demonstrate that this is also possible outside the U.S.

"The U.S. has just shown that one can be many."

I don't think I will ever again underestimate historical moments of great change. Having lived thru the last eight years and working on both the 2004 and 2008 campaigns - it is very clear to me just how hard this was to do and how very close we came many times this past year of it not have the results we currently enjoy.

We are truly blessed that Obama won and will be our President. I am truly truly grateful for that and for the influence he will bring to the national scene as indicated in your post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

of the world.

this is the first time in my life that I feel like I'm witnessing history in the making in a good way.

:kick:

I always thought France thought of Americans as fat, greedy, and crude. And maybe they do, but they love Obama!

Obama's election will make motivate people internationally to embrace change in their own governments.