This is a random post; it doesn't involve yet another trip account but rather it focuses on our, American, Presidential Election.
So, tonight I was out with a few German friends plus Nick from the U of M watching the Euro 2008 Championship Quarterfinals between Germany and Portugal. We went to the Kölnarena, which is the equivalent of the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul Minnesota. It is an arena that hosts professional hockey and basketball games as well as numerous concerts year round. Tonight though, they had the "public viewing" of the Euro 2008 Quarterfinals. It was a great experience. Some 20,000 fans packed the arena, chanted and celebrated as Germany beat Portugal 3-2. It was really fun to watch the Germans celebrate their team's victory.
One thing, though, caught me by surprise. After the game, we decided to go to Zülpicher Strasse, which is an area close to the University, known for parties as well as the place to go to celebrate National team's victories. As we got off the tram, a few people were standing by handing fliers. To my and Nick's surprise, the fliers we were handed were about the American Presidential Election (see picture for the flier).
Now, we all know that the election is a few months away and that it certainly doesn't allow anyone else but American citizens to participate in it. So why am I getting "Obama" fliers in the middle of summer in Cologne, Germany? To be honest, I have found out that Europeans really follow American politics, some probably more than your average Yankee; and over the couple of months I've been here, I've noticed that most Europeans would choose Obama for the next US President if it were up to them. So after seeing this I start wondering if Europeans (or for that matter anyone else besides the US citizens) have any influence on who we (Americans) elect for our president. From the flier I can deduce that they are not sponsored by Obama's campaign but they are rather independent. (also, why in the world would Obama spend his funding dollars in Europe where people cannot vote for him; and even if they could the exchange rate is so bad that he'd be better off not wasting money here). In reality no one but the US citizens have the privilege (or duty) to cast the vote; but it would be inconsiderate to say that the rest of the world doesn't have its input. The matter of the fact is that Europeans cannot wait till the person they recognize as the US President is not George W. Bush. Most will tell you that, even though it's a common belief, they don't "hate" Americans but they hate Bush. And now to prove their point, I, an American citizen, am getting solicited by Germans, who don't have the right to vote in the American election, to vote for Obama.
One of my favorite economics/current events authors, Thomas Friedman, wrote a column for New York Times a week or so ago focusing on the similar issue I am describing. He wrote about his experiences in Egypt. In his estimation, most Egyptians would vote for Obama as well. He goes one step further to say that Egyptians would vote for Obama because of his Muslim roots. Now, Obama has done everything in his power to distance himself from Islam but the fact remains his father's background is Muslim; he has never been a practicing Muslim, in fact he has been brought up as a Christian, however, his father's roots are Muslim even though his father was never a religious man. For more information on what Thomas Friedman wrote click HERE. Muslim or not, he is one American leader that apparently stands a chance in the Middle East.
One might ask why are not Europeans talking about John McCain at all? Do they even know he is running? Do they know who he is or that he was a POW in Vietnam? My guess is that fewer people in Europe know who McCain is than those who know about Obama. Additionally, my intuition drives me to conclude that a minority candidate in a traditionally white-male dominated election is making huge news in Europe. For what is worth I believe our partners are ready for us Americans to enter another chapter in the history and defy common beliefs. I am not endorsing Obama (yet anyways, I need to start learning about both candidates' agendas), but one cannot ignore what he's already done for America: People from around the world are watching and see this man as the changing of the guards in the American society. Many European nations have elected women to political posts such as the Prime Minister, but none have elected a minority PM or president. In one way, one may think that the US is behind as we've only had white males as leaders; however, regardless of the election outcome, Americans are the only ones that are considering a member of a minority group to be their next president. This is huge and obviously others are noticing it. And even though I hate politics, I cannot wait for the 2008 Election. Whether it is Obama or McCain, we as Americans need a change of direction in order to undo the damage the current administration has done.
Enough about politics; I am an hour away from going to Berlin. Yes, I am pulling an all-nighter as the really good deal I got on the plane ticket involves a 6:45am departure from Cologne.....ouch.
I am ready though for another experience. Berlin is still the symbol of the Cold War and I cannot wait to see it and write a post about it.
Till then....
From your Naturalized American abroad
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