U.S. Again Hailed as 'Country of Dreams'

[Crabtownboy]

The long dark night of is ending and the sun has broken over the horizon.

By Kevin Sullivan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, November 6, 2008; Page A26

LONDON, Nov. 5 -- Through tears and whoops of joy, in celebrations that spilled onto the streets, people around the globe called Barack Obama's election Tuesday a victory for the world and a renewal of America's ability to inspire.

"Americans overcame the racial divide and elected Obama because they wanted the real thing: a candidate who spoke from the bottom of his heart," said Terumi Hino, a photographer and painter in Tokyo. "I think this means the United States can go back to being admired as the country of dreams."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110502053.html?hpid=topnews

 

[LeBuick]

Wow, that was a powerful statement for someone in Tokyo to say.

I guess dreams do come true... :thumbs:

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I hardly think that the election of a liberal democrat with all that implies makes America a land of dreams.

The foreign media is portraying Obama as some kind of all conquering messiah riding in on his white house.

Remember what happened a few days after the true Messiah rode into town on a donkey?

 

[carpro]

Quote:
By Kevin Sullivan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, November 6, 2008; Page A26

LONDON, Nov. 5 -- Through tears and whoops of joy, in celebrations that spilled onto the streets, people around the globe called Barack Obama's election Tuesday a victory for the world and a renewal of America's ability to inspire.

"Americans overcame the racial divide and elected Obama because they wanted the real thing: a candidate who spoke from the bottom of his heart," said Terumi Hino, a photographer and painter in Tokyo. "I think this means the United States can go back to being admired as the country of dreams."

It has never ceased to be the "country of dreams". While the election of Obama reinforces the concept, it has never been absent.

It is only from a partisan political viewpoint that it had ceased.

When people get what they want it's the "country of dreams". When they don't it's not. It's called being a poor loser.

Consider the source, Kevin Sullivan. He of the partisan political viewpoint.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I hardly think that the election of a liberal democrat with all that implies makes America a land of dreams.

The foreign media is portraying Obama as some kind of all conquering messiah riding in on his white house.

Remember what happened a few days after the true Messiah rode into town on a donkey?

It is the election of an African American that gives others hope, hope that their own nation will change. The election has shown that change can happen, that the peoples who are, or who believe they are downtrodden can rise and rise peacefully. It shows that change is possible in our world.

This election has shown people all over the world that a nation can rise above its terrible prejudices that held people down. It has show that, again, the United States can and does change. I know it was a shock to many and this will force them to rethink their own feelings and their own prejudices. I hope it forces Europe to rethink its terrible prejudices and treatment of the Roma people.

I am not sure it if just the foreign media. Peoples all over the world were following this election with keen interest. Their media followed the election with such interest because their readers/viewers, etc. were interested.

Through most of our history the US has been looked at as a beacon of light. That light was greatly diminished in the last 8 years. At the moment it is shining again ... let us hope and pray and work, regardless of who or what party controls the presidency, that is never is diminished again.

This election will cause great problems for many politicians, especially dictators, around the world, especially those who have used the US as a whipping boy and played the race card so often. That card has been taken away. This has created a big political problem for the president of Iran. It has taken his, "The US is the Great Satan" card away.

 

[LeBuick]

I hardly think that the election of a liberal democrat with all that implies makes America a land of dreams.

The foreign media is portraying Obama as some kind of all conquering messiah riding in on his white house.

Remember what happened a few days after the true Messiah rode into town on a donkey?

I think the statement more about a black becoming president than it is about the person of Obama.

 

[Crabtownboy]

It has never ceased to be the "country of dreams". While the election of Obama reinforces the concept, it has never been absent.

It is only from a partisan political viewpoint that it had ceased.

When people get what they want it's the "country of dreams". When they don't it's not. It's called being a poor loser.

Consider the source, Kevin Sullivan. He of the partisan political viewpoint.

I gently suggest you come to Europe and talk to people here to see if the US has been viewed as a country of dreams the last 4 to 5 years. Or go to Latin America, Asia, etc. and talk to people in those places.

 

[LeBuick]

It is the election of an African American that gives others hope, hope that their own nation will change. The election has shown that change can happen, that the peoples who are, or who believe they are downtrodden can rise and rise peacefully. It shows that change is possible in our world..

Agreed, it gives hope that a Japanese American or even a Muslim can someday be president.

 

[carpro]

I gently suggest you come to Europe and talk to people here to see if the US has been viewed as a country of dreams the last 4 to 5 years. Or go to Latin America, Asia, etc. and talk to people in those places.

I don't doubt it.

That's because they weren't getting what they wanted. My statement stands.

Hillary had a dream, as well. Not everyone's "dreams" become reality, but in the U.S they can and do dream big.

That is reality in itself.

 

[LeBuick]

I don't doubt it.

That's because they weren't getting what they wanted. My statement stands.

Hillary had a dream, as well. Not everyone's "dreams" become reality, but in the U.S they can and do dream big.

That is reality in itself.

Perhaps not Hillary, but there is hope that we will have a Woman leader someday.

Many have dreamed of running for POTUS, look at McCain, and true his dream didn't come true. However, hope is still alive...

 

[Crabtownboy]

I don't doubt it.

That's because they weren't getting what they wanted. My statement stands.

Hillary had a dream, as well. Not everyone's "dreams" become reality, but in the U.S they can and do dream big.

That is reality in itself.

You and I know that it has always been a country of dreams. But the thread is about how others view/viewed the US. That is a very different kettle of fish. The US is very misunderstood by many in other lands. One of those misunderstandings was that white Americans would never vote for an African American. Why? Because they are too racist. That myth has been destroyed. There are other myths that linger that are totally incorrect.

 

[carpro]

You and I know that it has always been a country of dreams. But the thread is about how others view/viewed the US.

I can't and won't view my country through the prism of the expectations of other countries. They have their own agenda. When America begins to put it's own interests first, foreigners begin to complain about us not being the land of dreams.

Poor babies.

But their citizens keep clamoring to get in.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I think the statement more about a black becoming president than it is about the person of Obama.

Maybe you are correct - I honestly have missed just how racial this election really was. I am starting to 'cop on' as we say here.

No cynicism here - race was, at the end of the day, a much bigger issue that I have thought.

 

[4His_glory]

I gently suggest you come to Europe and talk to people here to see if the US has been viewed as a country of dreams the last 4 to 5 years. Or go to Latin America, Asia, etc. and talk to people in those places.

I can assure you, the majority of latin americans have viewed the USA as the country of dreams for the last 4 to 5 years. Who does not want to live in the US? Life in there is a Disney Land in comparison to much of the rest of the world.

People may not like the US gov. but they still would prefer to live the "american life" instead of the standard that they are currently living.

This is just a testimony that capitalism works much better than socialism. Perhaps now though, the US will degrade to the standard of life in much of the rest of the world.

 

[targus]

I gently suggest you come to Europe and talk to people here to see if the US has been viewed as a country of dreams the last 4 to 5 years. Or go to Latin America, Asia, etc. and talk to people in those places.

Does anyone else find it ironic that other countries are judging America based on the racial background of an elected leader while those same countries have yet to elect national leaders of a different racial background than their own?

BTW did any of these same people happen to notice that we have had African Americans in positions of power for some time now - Supreme Court Justice, Secretary of State, etc.?

Did of these same people happen to notice that our borders are literally flooded with people trying to get into our country? But it's not viewed as a country of dreams?

I am sure that there are hoards of illegal aliens sneaking into the countries of Latin America, Asia, etc. every day. Yeah - right.

Envy colors opinion.

 

[Bob Alkire]

Does anyone else find it ironic that other countries are judging America based on the racial background of an elected leader while those same countries have yet to elect national leaders of a different racial background than their own?

BTW did any of these same people happen to notice that we have had African Americans in positions of power for some time now - Supreme Court Justice, Secretary of State, etc.?

Did of these same people happen to notice that our borders are literally flooded with people trying to get into our country? But it's not viewed as a country of dreams?

I am sure that there are hoards of illegal aliens sneaking into the countries of Latin America, Asia, etc. every day. Yeah - right.

Envy colors opinion.

Good post, very ture. And envy does and has colored opinion.

 

[LeBuick]

I can assure you, the majority of latin americans have viewed the USA as the country of dreams for the last 4 to 5 years. Who does not want to live in the US? Life in there is a Disney Land in comparison to much of the rest of the world..

"Latin American's" have been flocking over the border trying to take part in the dream a whole lot longer than the last 4 to 5 years. Good try it giving Bush the credit but that is so far a stretch even a politician wouldn't support this statement.

 

[4His_glory]

"Latin American's" have been flocking over the border trying to take part in the dream a whole lot longer than the last 4 to 5 years. Good try it giving Bush the credit but that is so far a stretch even a politician wouldn't support this statement.

I realize that it has been longer than 4 to 5 years. I said that because of the comment by crabtown in regards to the past 4 to 5 years.

I never gave Bush the credit- you sure know how to twist some ones statements.

The point is that America never stopped being "the country of dreams" for much of the world. This idea that people did not want to come here during the Bush administration is bunk. People have always wanted to come.

 

[LeBuick]

The point is that America never stopped being "the country of dreams" for much of the world. This idea that people did not want to come here during the Bush administration is bunk. People have always wanted to come.

Well, in that case, let me find the article I recently read where the Mexicans are flocking back south of the border. I think we did loose some of our glimmer in tis last administration.

Edit...

Googled pulled up tons of articles. Here's one...

http://www.10news.com/money/17798363/detail.html?rss=sand&psp=money#-

Thousands of Latin American immigrants both legal and illegal are going back home as the economic crisis in the United States causes jobs to dry up in the construction, landscaping and restaurant industries.

 

[targus]

Well, in that case, let me find the article I recently read where the Mexicans are flocking back south of the border. I think we did loose some of our glimmer in tis last administration.

Edit...

Googled pulled up tons of articles. Here's one...

http://www.10news.com/money/17798363/detail.html?rss=sand&psp=money#-

So it's true then...

Every dark cloud does have a silver lining.

If all it takes is an economic depression to reclaim our country for it's citizens without turmoil or violence they I say "bring it on"!!!!