The web exploded today. Google News shows only on its main news page about 18000 articles on Obama for the past hours, Google Blog Search shows as top stories only blog posts about Obama, not to mention a gazillion other articles you could find through other channels. The web exploded for a reason, today America proved that it's truly the country where anything is possible, an excellent example of how a true democracy should look like. For the first time in its history, America has a black president. It's amazing because about 45 years ago Martin Luther King was having his inspirational speech regarding the Emancipation Proclamation. It might seem a long time for an individual, but it's a short period for a country.
I'm not American (as my English proves it) but I wanted Obama to win. If Obama's presidential skills are at least 10% of what his oratorical skills are, then America has a president ten times better than Bush. I listened to the Barack Obama Presidential Victory Speech, and even if I am not an American, I felt that I'm close to crying. The atmosphere, his human nature, his parenting side, his words - everything just fits together better than in many movies leading you towards tears. It's really amazing. Maybe because he's saying the truth about this. I wish him the power to put America on the right track again, because if America sneezes, Europe dies of fever.
McCain and the other future candidates have to learn something out of this. Obama won the internet world first, because the most percentage of Obama voters by age (compared to McCain's) was for the 18-29 segment (see CNN's exit poll). And in this segment of age are the most internet users too. This is why on every social interaction website Obama was viewed as the right choice, while McCain & Palin were criticized for every move they made. Interesting from that poll is that more women chose Obama than men, even if McCain had Palin on his side. Anyway, my opinion is that "he who owns the Internet shall rule the world" - maybe not literally.
I only wish there would be a candidate in my country that I could admire at least half as I admire Obama. His views (nicely put up together on votehelp.org) on several important issues match mine, and as the results show they matched at least with those of at least 56 million Americans:
- Withdrawal from Iraq - Obama will reduce the number of troops in Iraq and proposed a phased withdrawal of all troops. A peacemaker, not like McCain who wanted to increase the number of troops.
- Education Funding - Obama wants to increase funding for education (brining in new teachers, improving access to technology, ...), where McCain didn't want to increase funding.
- Minimum Wage - Obama supported bills to increase the minimum wage, so this will probably happen in the near future. McCain didn't.
- Abortion - Obama is pro-abortion, McCain is anti-abortion (sure Palin had something to do with).
- Drug Policy - Well, in here both candidates voted against the legal use of marijuana. No one is perfect :).
- Corporate Subsidies - Obama wants to reduce the tax for 90% of Americans, while increasing it for large corporations. McCain wanted to reduce the taxes for large corporations, for fear of "moving offshore".
- Aggressive Foreign Policy - With this, both candidates seem to be on the same side meaning they would continue co-operating with other countries to "meet common challenges such as terrorism".
- Immigration Enforcement - Both candidates want to reduce illegal immigration. As a non-american I would like to see my country added on the visa-waiver program, so I could visit America without waiting 6 months for the possibility of getting a travel visa.
- Environment Regulation - Obama seems to be on the right track, meaning he will provide help to ensure America meets better environment regulations (and what Bush ignored until now).
We will see how things go over time. I see Obama's victory as the victory of every American. And if America does better and the dollar is strong, us, non-americans, live better too. Yes, you can and you will.
