brandon williamscraig

This is My President

For the first time in my life I can say that, with all my heart, about a true statesman who "will listen, especially to those who disagree."

When I took the dog out for his walk tonight, after President-elect Obama's acceptance speech, it was onto University Avenue in Berkeley, past the victory party at re-elected Mayor Tom Bates' campaign office. Hundreds of automobile horns were constantly firing salvos of sound, strangers were waving and cheering and calling to each other, and hundreds swelled the street at Bancroft and Telegraph in front of the University in a peaceful and spirited street festival. It felt like what I imagine Victory in Europe celebrations might have been like, the difference being that, rather than returning to our shores after helping neighbors resist the fist of domination, after this victory, finally, my country may consider lifting its head again and re-enter world citizenship with eight years of shame behind it for being the purveyor of empire.

Coming home I passed four familiar homeless folks attempting to sleep on the concrete and pulling their blankets over their heads against the fierce chill and to mute the noise of a celebration they can't really share. Coming home past people who can't come home to hear about dear friends stripped of the right to marry the men and women they love, sobers me. Our President-elect sounded a similar note, not of triumph and victory over The Enemy but of getting down to the real work ahead - that of truly building an inclusive community that begins with measured and considerate listening, particularly to those who disagree.

That is public service at its finest and I am almost tearful not only for the honest pain that might finally get a hearing by an honest leader in power, but also with gratitude that I may feel proud once more to be an American.

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NICOLAS SARKOZY, FRENCH PRESIDENT

"With the world in turmoil and doubt, the American people, faithful to the values that have always defined America's identity, have expressed with force their faith in progress and the future.

"At a time when we must face huge challenges together, your election has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond."

HAMID KARZAI, AFGHAN PRESIDENT

"I applaud the American people for their great decision and I hope that this new administration in the United States of America, and the fact of the massive show of concern for human beings and lack of interest in race and color while electing the president, will go a long way in bringing the same values to the rest of world sooner or later."

MWAI KIBAKI, KENYAN PRESIDENT

"We the Kenyan people are immensely proud of your Kenyan roots. Your victory is not only an inspiration to millions of people all over the world, but it has special resonance with us here in Kenya."

JOSE MANUEL BARROSO, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT

"We need to change the current crisis into a new opportunity. We need a new deal for a new world. I sincerely hope that with the leadership of President Obama, the United States of America will join forces with Europe to drive this new deal. For the benefit of our societies, for the benefit of the world."

TARO ASO, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER

"The Japan-U.S. alliance is key to Japanese diplomacy and it is the foundation for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. With President-elect Obama, I will strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance further and work toward resolving global issues such as the world economy, terror and the environment."

KGALEMA MOTLANTHE, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT

"Africa, which today stands proud of your achievements, can only but look forward to a fruitful working relationship with you both at a bilateral and multilateral levels in our endeavour to create a better world for all who live in it."

STEPHEN HARPER, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER

"I look forward to meeting with the President-elect so that we can continue to strengthen the special bond that exists between Canada and the United States. Ministers in our government look forward to building a strong working relationship with their counterparts in a new Obama cabinet."

KEVIN RUDD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER

"Senator Obama's message of hope is not just for America's future, it is also a message of hope for the world as well. A world which is now in many respects fearful for its future."

HELEN CLARK, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER

"Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis and global warming. We look forward to working closely with President-elect Obama and his team to address these challenges."

SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO, INDONESIAN PRESIDENT

Indonesia especially hopes that the U.S., under new leadership, will stand in the front and take real action to overcome the global financial crisis, especially since the crisis was triggered by the financial conditions in the U.S."

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

"We welcome his triumph in the same vein that we place the integrity of the US electoral process and the choices made by the American people in high regard. We likewise note the making of history with the election of Senator Obama as the first African-American president of the United States."

ALI AGHAMOHAMMADI, CLOSE AIDE TO IRAN'S MOST POWEFUL FIGURE

AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI

"The president-elect has promised changes in policies. There is a capacity for the improvement of ties between America and Iran if Obama pursues his campaign promises, including not confronting other countries as Bush did in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also concentrating on America's state matters and removing the American people's concerns."

SAEB EREKAT, AIDE TO PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS

"We hope the president-elect in the United States will stay the course and would continue the U.S. engagement in the peace process without delay. We hope the two-state vision would be transferred from a vision to a realistic track immediately."

SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL BLUE HOUSE

"We believe the election of Obama is due to the American people's support for his message of new change and hope. President Lee Myung-bak has made change and reform an important policy priority since his own election and the two leaders share their philosophy in this regard."

PAKISTANI EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON

"President (Asif Ali) Zardari expressed the hope that Pakistan-U.S. relations will be enhanced under the new American leadership that received a popular mandate in Tuesday's poll."

(For more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http:/blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)

Labels: daily, obama, polis, politics