I’ve been watching C-SPAN #1’s news around the world and it is awe-inspiring.  In Russia (RUSSIA!!) a pro-American blues bar were singing and celebrating a Barack Obama win.  There was a mock United States election among Russian students.  Of course the Kremlin wasn’t so optimistic.  They were too busy setting up a missile defense system near Poland to notice anything different in America.

I saw celebrations and/or mock U.S. elections in China, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Iran and Indonesia.  I’m speechless.

The most powerful thing about this win is what it represents.  When people around the world are questioned they mention the same thing… they are hoping for better relations between they’re country and the U.S.

I’ve traveled the world both before and after 9/ll and I can tell you there was a time when America was loved like you would not believe.  I remember being in Korea in 1998 as G.I.  Although there were some violent student protests at the colleges, the older generations LOVED Americans.  I remember walking the streets and a Korean father handing me his baby and telling me he loved Americans.  He could barely speak English and I could barely speak Korean.  I went there again in 2004.  With American in the middle of two wars (one very, unpopular) I didn’t feel as comfortable wandering too far from other Americans.  I also went to Germany in 2004 and I can tell you that every now and then I’d notice a book, a magazine or a news cast with a negative perception of America.  On more than one occasion I was tempted to tell people I was from Canada just to avoid being embarrassed or being killed.

It is obvious that people around the world want America to be successful not just because many of their economies depend on our buying power but also the dream and hope that America represents.

We are one of the few nations on Earth that allow a citizen of any race the opportunity to take a major office to represent and govern its people.

That is something to be proud of.

there our economy is tied into so many of their lives

so many dreams,