World Reactions to Obama's Win

A taste of world reactions:

Italian Newspaper: The World Changes



Iraqi Blogger:
I am so happy today. I feel hope in the wind. Obama is the elect president of the U.S of A.

Am I happy for Iraq? I don't know. I don't know what will happen and I'm afraid. Will he pull out the troops? Will he care enough to reach a good compromise – fair to the Iraqi people? Or will he have to go overboard in some issues just to prove that he's American? Can he withstand the pressures?

But in spite of all my fears, I am so happy for America - You have come such a long way. You had the strength, the will to elect this man of change. And with all my heart I hope he puts America on the path to recovery. To see America again on the pedestal of freedom and democracy, a benign force that heals instead of hurts, unites instead of divides – soon inshalla.

I wish to congratulate you all.



Prominent Saudi columnist Dawood al-Shirian.
"Today, reality in America has superseded fantasy. ... Americans have struck a deadly blow to racism all over the world. Americans have regained themselves and have regained the American dream. The picture of the U.S. that was disfigured by the Republicans in the past eight years fell from the wall today. The picture of the America we had in our minds has taken its place."

Syrian Daily: "We Hereby Declare Obama the 44th President [Before It's Official]... Even If It Might Be Considered Irresponsible Journalism"

In its headline, the Syrian daily Al-Watan named Obama president even before the official results were announced. The editorial that accompanied the headline explained: "We wanted to declare Obama president... as a show of solidarity with millions of Americans, Arabs, and colleagues in the world media who [all] yearn for 'change' in U.S. foreign policy. They are all betting on Obama - who has been waving the slogan [of change]... in hope that he will be different not only in the color of his skin, but also in his view regarding Washington's policy towards the world...

"Some claim that if Obama wins he will be no better than Bush, if not worse... They may be right, since it is well known that no American president has ever stood on the side of the Arabs - rather, they have all stood on the side of Israel...

"Yesterday was undoubtedly a long, exhausting, and historic day by any standard. The American people [voted] with a vigor not seen in any [previous] U.S. presidential election, in a bid to make history and change the ugly face of the U.S.

"Out of respect for them and for everyone who voted for change, and out for respect for the souls of the Syrian, Iraqi, and Arab martyrs, we hereby declare Obama the 44th president of the U.S., even if it might be considered irresponsible journalism. We are sure that our readers will forgive us if we turn out to be wrong - [a possibility] for which we do not hope."

Mostafa Eqbali, a merchant in the Iranian capital, Tehran: "Let me tell you that now I believe in American democracy. Honestly, I did not think that Obama would be president. I thought that the invisible hands of the big trusts and cartels would not allow a black man to be president of the United States."

A journalist from South Africa:

Damn, I love Americans. Just when you’ve written them off as hopeless, as a nation in decline, they turn around and do something extraordinary, which tells you why the United States of America is still the greatest nation on earth. But too, what is happening in America and Kenya holds lessons for politicians everywhere, and South Africa would do well to take heed.

Britain's Guardian newspaper: "Today is for celebration, for happiness and for reflected human glory. Savor those words: President Barack Obama, America's hope and, in no small way, ours too."

Mali President Amadou Toure: "The United States has given a lesson, a lesson in maturity and a lesson in democracy."

Japanese artist Terumi Hino: "Americans overcame the racial divide and elected Obama... I think this means the United States can go back to being admired as the country of dreams."

Nelson Mandela: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."

Tristram Hunt, a British historian: Mr. Obama "brings the narrative that everyone wants to return to — that America is the land of extraordinary opportunity and possibility, where miracles happen."

And something written BEFORE the election by a journalist in Ramallah:

"But what if the face of America were Obama’s instead, and the warmth of feeling extended to Americans could not instinctively be denied their leader? What if the posters of Mohammed Ali would come down and posters of, of all things, the US president would be filling their spaces—filling, that is, some of the holes in the hearts of fruit vendors, terrified by globalization, from Palestine to Jakarta? Obama’s campaign, and many pundits, have made the point, so I won’t go on about it. But I thought I might report that one cannot take a cab in Ramallah and not run into what this means."

And some videos:

A New York City Subway

Europa


Sydney, Australia (although this is what *my* party looked like)


Obama City, Japan


Where I wanted to be more than anywhere else in the Whole World


But probably my favorite video, just because it's my favorite story: Washington DC, the White House


People just flooded out into the streets, apparently, and ended up marching to the White House in an uncoordinated march of joy. I heard that someone hung up a sign saying "Welcome Home, Malia and Sasha."