From us non-Americans: CONGRATULATIONS!

romybian

I believe I speak for many of us when I say what has just happened in your country has restored our faith in all of you, the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there.
I'm amazed, I'm talking to friends from all over the world and I keep hearing the same things, we are all happy for you, you've done an amazing job!!

Again, Congratulations!!!!

romybian

http://www.barackobama.com/live/

dontloseyourheat

I don't understand why non American's care so much. Hell we know shit about your governments, I doubt you know much about ours. Most American's (myself included) don't all the details about our own government. What percentage of voters can fully understand the candidate's tax plans? How many fully understand the economy and how it will be affected? The answer is not many.

So before everyone starts chiseling his face into Mt. Rushmore, how bout we take a look at his record. No matter how you swing it, its obvious that he still has a lot to prove. Time is going to be the judge of this election and it's painfully obvious that we are unsure of what we are going to be getting.

Vedderlution_Baby

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I don't understand why non American's care so much. Hell we know shit about your governments, I doubt you know much about ours. Most American's (myself included) don't all the details about our own government. What percentage of voters can fully understand the candidate's tax plans? How many fully understand the economy and how it will be affected? The answer is not many.

So before everyone starts chiseling his face into Mt. Rushmore, how bout we take a look at his record. No matter how you swing it, its obvious that he still has a lot to prove. Time is going to be the judge of this election and it's painfully obvious that we are unsure of what we are going to be getting.

It's not hard to understand why people from all over the world are paying attention.

panthergirl

romybian wrote:

I believe I speak for many of us when I say what has just happened in your country has restored our faith in all of you, the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there.
I'm amazed, I'm talking to friends from all over the world and I keep hearing the same things, we are all happy for you, you've done an amazing job!!

Again, Congratulations!!!!

from someone who spent many many hours volunteering...thank you for your very thoughtful post

i am beyond words.

it's just pure joy and hopefulness...
yes we can.

Mrs.Vedder78

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I don't understand why non American's care so much.

This part alone shows that its not only the US government you dont know all the details about but obviously you are lacking some insight on how influential the USA is on the rest of the world's economy and in many ways even their safety.

EP1973

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I don't understand why non American's care so much. Hell we know shit about your governments, I doubt you know much about ours. Most American's (myself included) don't all the details about our own government. What percentage of voters can fully understand the candidate's tax plans? How many fully understand the economy and how it will be affected? The answer is not many.

So before everyone starts chiseling his face into Mt. Rushmore, how bout we take a look at his record. No matter how you swing it, its obvious that he still has a lot to prove. Time is going to be the judge of this election and it's painfully obvious that we are unsure of what we are going to be getting.

Maybe so, but we know what we got rid of...

romybian

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I don't understand why non American's care so much. Hell we know shit about your governments, I doubt you know much about ours. Most American's (myself included) don't all the details about our own government. What percentage of voters can fully understand the candidate's tax plans? How many fully understand the economy and how it will be affected? The answer is not many.

So before everyone starts chiseling his face into Mt. Rushmore, how bout we take a look at his record. No matter how you swing it, its obvious that he still has a lot to prove. Time is going to be the judge of this election and it's painfully obvious that we are unsure of what we are going to be getting.

Because as a powerful nation, what happens there affects the rest of the world (specially countries like mine, where big issues in big countries become HUGE issues).
So yeah, that's why.

wolfbear

Yes, he does have a lot to do, but it's a lot easier to get things done with allies on your side.

romybian

dontloseyourheat wrote:

we know shit about your governments, I doubt you know much about ours. .

you know nothing because nothing is shown to you. But I believe that bubble may just burst now, or at least I hope it does.
I'm sure you know nothing about what happened in Argentina in 2001, but let me tell you, the entire world saw those 2 towers fall down as many times as you did, it was a constant image, and whenever wall street drops a bit, the rest of the world is watching, not only because it affects us, but because in the end, it's one world, and it's important to know what's going on beyond our backyard.

dontloseyourheat

Like I said, most people don't understand their own governments, I doubt many foreigners grasp exactly how our election will affect them.

Think about how much coverage foreign elections are given here. The news may give brief coverage but not enough to fully understand what is going on. Obviously the people in that country would have a better understanding of the candidates and what is at stake. So no matter the outcome of their election, I wouldn't be in a position to judge their decision.

I'm not taking a dig at the OP but I just think its unfair that "the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there."

romybian

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I'm not taking a dig at the OP but I just think its unfair that "the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there."

I understand what you're saying, but .... we would have... I would have, and those I talk with would have....
It can be unfair but that doesn't make it a lie.

romybian

dontloseyourheat wrote:

Think about how much coverage foreign elections are given here. The news may give brief coverage but not enough to fully understand what is going on. Obviously the people in that country would have a better understanding of the candidates and what is at stake. So no matter the outcome of their election, I wouldn't be in a position to judge their decision.

I lived in the us, came back 7 months ago... and this past year, Obama and McCain were on tv every single day. Not to mention, we get many US (and european and other) channels subtitled... so we get what you see, and even some more.
I don't wanna turn this into an argument, I'm sharing my opinion, and it's not based on a hollywood coverage of an election in a foreign country but in what I have read, lived, seen and experienced about the US...

Brain of J.Lo

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I don't understand why non American's care so much.

It might be because some of our so-called "leaders" have spent the greater part of 8 years fucking shit up all over the world. That tends to affect more than just Americans.

Rhinocerous Surprise

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

It might be because some of our so-called "leaders" have spent the greater part of 8 years fucking shit up all over the world. That tends to affect more than just Americans.

I think I saw more of Obama and McCain this past year than I did my own parents - this is like family to me.

romybian

LOL
ok this is too much but a local news station is showing footage from obama waving at the crowd with "what a wonderful world" as a background, hahahaha
now THAT is too much.
hahaha
lol
k off to bed...
Sleep well everyone! though I'm sure most will.

Medicated-Genius

dontloseyourheat wrote:

Like I said, most people don't understand their own governments, I doubt many foreigners grasp exactly how our election will affect them.

Think about how much coverage foreign elections are given here. The news may give brief coverage but not enough to fully understand what is going on. Obviously the people in that country would have a better understanding of the candidates and what is at stake. So no matter the outcome of their election, I wouldn't be in a position to judge their decision.

I'm not taking a dig at the OP but I just think its unfair that "the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there."

The point being, that many other countries in the world DO get a lot of coverage and insight of world affairs, be they the US or elsewhere. I know many americans don't like to hear this, but the US is a very insular country, particularly where international media is concerned. I only spent a summer there a few years ago, but it was striking just how little world current events are shown on TV over there. American politics has a significant impact on the rest of the world and I think many, many, many foreigners do have a grasp on what this election means and how it will affect them.

As for the OP's statements about the image of the American people being changed in a matter of seconds, I wholeheartedly agree. Pretty much every single person I know would agree. The world is very much watching and my respect for the people of America has jumped 100 fold...... for demanding change, for having the guts to vote for a black president and for making their voices, and votes, count. Early on in the count, when it was still only 23% counted, the number of votes was at 40 million. That translates to 160 million people voting in this election. This shows the world that the American people are no longer complacent, they are interested in their government and it projects a much much more positive image of America than has been projected for the last 8 years. Well done America!

JaneNY

Hi Romybian - thanks for your congratulations!

righteousbabe

romybian wrote:

you know nothing because nothing is shown to you. But I believe that bubble may just burst now, or at least I hope it does.
I'm sure you know nothing about what happened in Argentina in 2001, but let me tell you, the entire world saw those 2 towers fall down as many times as you did, it was a constant image, and whenever wall street drops a bit, the rest of the world is watching, not only because it affects us, but because in the end, it's one world, and it's important to know what's going on beyond our backyard.

I agree. I'm Canadian, and when I spent time in America this past October, I was shocked at how little your news was actually telling you. I stayed in a house where the news channel was on all day, and I was dissapointed that I learned nothing about the election that I didn't already know. Canadian mass media is not perfect, the left-wing political magazine I subscribe to tells me things that aren't always on the news, but at least they occasionally run insightful investigations and in-depth interviews. Pick up a Canadian newspaper one day, or check out http://www.cbc.ca (our main source of news) and you'll see what I mean.

Strangest Tribe

romybian wrote:

I believe I speak for many of us when I say what has just happened in your country has restored our faith in all of you, the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there.
I'm amazed, I'm talking to friends from all over the world and I keep hearing the same things, we are all happy for you, you've done an amazing job!!

Again, Congratulations!!!!

thanks

....we've been trying

iamica

romybian wrote:

I believe I speak for many of us when I say what has just happened in your country has restored our faith in all of you, the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there.
I'm amazed, I'm talking to friends from all over the world and I keep hearing the same things, we are all happy for you, you've done an amazing job!!

Again, Congratulations!!!!

Thank you.

ACCBootlegGoddess

Here Here!!!! Great post!!

I agree! Congrats from Canada!! I've never been more proud of you all then I am tonight. I had tears streaming down my face tonight and its not even my country! lol.

heartdesire

Medicated-Genius wrote:

The point being, that many other countries in the world DO get a lot of coverage and insight of world affairs, be they the US or elsewhere. I know many americans don't like to hear this, but the US is a very insular country, particularly where international media is concerned. I only spent a summer there a few years ago, but it was striking just how little world current events are shown on TV over there. American politics has a significant impact on the rest of the world and I think many, many, many foreigners do have a grasp on what this election means and how it will affect them.

As for the OP's statements about the image of the American people being changed in a matter of seconds, I wholeheartedly agree. Pretty much every single person I know would agree. The world is very much watching and my respect for the people of America has jumped 100 fold...... for demanding change, for having the guts to vote for a black president and for making their voices, and votes, count. Early on in the count, when it was still only 23% counted, the number of votes was at 40 million. That translates to 160 million people voting in this election. This shows the world that the American people are no longer complacent, they are interested in their government and it projects a much much more positive image of America than has been projected for the last 8 years. Well done America!

Thank you!!! Yes our news is so very insular!!! It's hard to get folks to understand this ... some just don't care, sad but true. There are those that do and this was proven this evening.

Thank you and thanks to the OP!

It's a new day ... end of the Bush Era!!! That's a big relief onto itself!

Speakers

dontloseyourheat wrote:

Like I said, most people don't understand their own governments, I doubt many foreigners grasp exactly how our election will affect them.

Think about how much coverage foreign elections are given here. The news may give brief coverage but not enough to fully understand what is going on. Obviously the people in that country would have a better understanding of the candidates and what is at stake. So no matter the outcome of their election, I wouldn't be in a position to judge their decision.

I'm not taking a dig at the OP but I just think its unfair that "the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there."

Have you ever lived abroad? Just curious.

chime

dontloseyourheat wrote:

I don't understand why non American's care so much. Hell we know shit about your governments, I doubt you know much about ours. Most American's (myself included) don't all the details about our own government. What percentage of voters can fully understand the candidate's tax plans? How many fully understand the economy and how it will be affected? The answer is not many.

Of our five national terrestrial free to air channels the two main ones were showing full election coverage from an hour before the first polls closed with reporters posted in either a Republican or Democratic party in most states ... myself and a lot of people I know stayed up all night watching the coverage.

I lived in the States for a year and as others have said the amount of International news you guys don't see shocked me.

This section of our main national broadcaster has been dedicated to the election for a long time http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/vote_usa_2008/default.stm

The election trail has been on our news constantly ... especially since the primaries started ... our news discussion programmes have been dedicated to it. It was on the front page of all pages for the last few days.

What happens in the US ... the rest of the world feels.

Congrats from here too!

Julien

Congratulations !

Even if Obama isn't the perfect president (time will tell), the fact that he has been elected will give the world economy a new breath and this will help to improve the US' image outside its frontiers. After 8 years of Bush's presidency, I think many people were waiting for something else...

Sian-of-the-dead

I believe the votes the US public cast effect us all. I would like to say, from Sian-of-the-dead in Coventry, England... HUGE congratulations!

I was backing Obama all the way and I'm so pleased the US voting public have made, what I see as, the right choice

Anon

dontloseyourheat wrote:

Like I said, most people don't understand their own governments, I doubt many foreigners grasp exactly how our election will affect them.

Think about how much coverage foreign elections are given here. The news may give brief coverage but not enough to fully understand what is going on. Obviously the people in that country would have a better understanding of the candidates and what is at stake. So no matter the outcome of their election, I wouldn't be in a position to judge their decision.

I'm not taking a dig at the OP but I just think its unfair that "the image of the US changed in a matter of seconds, had the outcome been any different we would have probably just given up and thought there was nothing left to believe in over there."

Anyone interested enough will educate themselves. You seem to have difficulty grapsing the fact that the poor decisions america makes, impacts on other countries. You know why we don't hear about other countries like Europe and Australia and New Zealand here? Because they don't fuck with us and make decisions that influence how i have to live my life.

You think other countries don't take an interest and are uninformed. You are wrong. Have you ever lived outside the US?

I was talking to my mom this morning in australia. It's their Wednesday night there and she tells me that the media has had constant coverage of the election on. It's overshadowed their daily news, Australian news has taken a backstep as they were more than keenly awaiting the outcome of the election. So you have no clue as to what you are talking about.

Austicman

AMERICA FUCK YEAH!! COME AND SAVE THE MOTHER FUCKING DAY YEAH!!!

Good stuff America. Don't let the oxygen thieves take the gloss off this historic win!!! Champion effort!!

Obi Once

Congratulations from The Netherlands!! I tried to stay up all nite to witness it all, but fell asleep and woke up when the Chicago crowd cheered after Obama's victory speech, I slept very peacefully after that.

facepollution

I'd almost convinced myself this wasn't going to happen, after Bush got in again 4 years ago it was pretty damn depressing, and I had a nasty feeling you guys were going to err on the side of caution, so didn't want to get my hopes up. But kudos to those who were willing to take a chance, who recognised that you need a real change. I know it's hard for some people to understand why us non-Americans care so much, and I do respect the fact that you have concerns about Obama's dealing with domestic issues, but after 8 years of misery caused by Bush's greed and bullying tactics, I'm thrilled that you have someone who has a seemingly genuine concern for the world we live in.