It always interests me to find out what news becomes big enough to make an impact worldwide.
When I was six years old, a little girl my age was murdered in a nearby neighborhood. The news of the ongoing mystery fascinated the media enough that my extended family members in Okinawa, Japan were calling to ask for updates. I distinctly remember thinking, “Huh? How do they know about this?”
This was my first personal experience with being right in the middle of something that was a much bigger deal than it appeared. I thought that I knew about the murder because she was killed just a few miles away from my own home, and I had a few friends from school that knew her and her family.
It wasn’t until later that I realized that the whole world was hearing about it because of how tragic the situation was, and how bizarre the story became as details of the case began to unfold.
My most recent experience with this was Tuesday, Nov. 4.
If things go according to plan, he will serve as the next president of the United States of America, and we’re right here, right in the middle of all the chaos and glory. Of course he’s a big deal here. Why is it significant news to us right now? Because he’s our future president. Right?
Well, yes, but there’s a lot more to it. We’re here, so it’s a little difficult to be aware of the global take on this occasion without going somewhere else or doing a little research. And if you do that, you will most likely discover that this nationwide Obama frenzy is, in fact, international.
This isn’t just a monumental change for the United States of America. It’s being recognized and celebrated all over the world, a concept that is significantly more exciting to me than a strictly domestic sense of elation.
The energy in foreign media is reminiscent of New Year’s Eve coverage, complete with large, excited headlines and colorful pictures of joyous festivities. It might be a stretch to say that everyone is celebrating Obama’s presidential win, but many people from many different countries are.
In my daily world of a fairly liberal college in Santa Barbara, Obama’s win is treated as an important historic change that brings promises of peace, prosperity, and equality in ways that we have never experienced before. As it turns out, many people around the world are on the same page, and it’s a great feeling.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and prominent officials in Germany, Russia, and various other European countries have publicly praised Obama. They have voiced their beliefs that his presidency will result in an improved relationship between the United States and Europe.
Obama is inspiring people in Kenya, where he has ancestral roots, and various other African nations. Nelson Mandela and other civil rights leaders are welcoming him.
Of course there are naysayers, as there are in any situation. But for the most part, people all around the globe are sharing the joy and hope that this election has brought to many of my peers and me.
The fact that something that’s important to me is making an impact on everyone is exciting.
