Just watching MSNBC right now, and they've got a reporter named Martin Fletcher over in Kenya right now. He just gave a report from Kenya - transcript after the fold - describing the joy felt by Obama's African family after his win last night. The report reminded me that the symbolic value of an Obama win can't be underestimated.
Here's the transcript:
Well I can tell you that if people are happy - if Obama's supporters are happy in the United States - they're ecstatic in an area in Kenya called Nyangoma-Kogelo, and that's the area where his family comes from.
They were listening to results on the radio last night because they don't have a television in their village. So they'd all kinda gathered 'round their radios waiting for the results - the family of Barack Obama. And they said when they heard that he won they all began screaming and jumping and dancing in the air and clapping each other on the back - you know, absolute ecstasy in the village.
You can imagine... This is the village where his father comes from, where his grandmother is living right now. And I spoke to his uncle by the way - I called his uncle - and he said, he pleaded with me actually - and if you don't mind, I'll do this now - he pleaded with me to pass on a message to Barack Obama. This is from his - this is from his uncle Sayid Obama, and the message is that the family here in Kenya - we are so happy, you make us proud, and we're praying for your success in New Hampshire . So that's the message from the relatives in Nyangoma-Kogelo, western Kenya.
It's really beautiful to me to hear this expression of joy coming from Obama's African family.
It's not just being felt in Kenya - but around the world. I took a brief tour around a few international news sites I follow. Obama's victory is front page news all over the world. Here's a small sample of screen caps. Click on them for a bigger view.
This image is from the front page of BBC News. The headline higlights Obama's win, and a picture of the Obama family is front and center on their site.
This screen cap is the front page of the Irish Times, the biggest online news site in Ireland. Obama's victory is on the front page along with a nice picture.
This is from La Repubblica, Rome's big daily. Once again, Obama's picture is featured on the front page, and he gets a friendly headline.
Here is the South China Morning Post, one of two large, msm-type English language dailies from Hong Kong. Obama's picture is on the front page of their World News section.
Perhaps the best one of all, here is the front page of today's edition of Le Monde. For those who don't know, that's the big daily in Paris. A lovely picture of Obama's family gets almost the entire top half of the front page.
I've seen arguments for and against the symbolic value of an Obama candidacy. Considering that his victory is truly reverberating around the world, I can't help but think that perhaps having Obama as the face of America wouldn't be so bad for us. And while I don't usually weight symbolism over substance *, I did write a post back when Nancy took the Speaker's gavel arguing in favor of her selection for just that reason. I'd be hypocritical to deny that symbolism is important in this race. Obama himself stated it so beautifully last night during his speech (h/t Adam B):
There are days of disappointment, but sometimes, just sometimes, there are nights like this - a night -- a night that, years from now, when we've made the changes we believe in; when more families can afford to see a doctor; when our children -- when Malia and Sasha and your children -- inherit a planet that's a little cleaner and safer; when the world sees America differently, and America sees itself as a nation less divided and more united; you'll be able look back with pride and say that this was the moment when it all began.
This was the moment when the improbable beat what Washington always said was inevitable.
This was the moment when we tore down barriers that have divided us for too long - when we rallied people of all parties and ages to a common cause; when we finally gave Americans who'd never participated in politics a reason to stand up and to do so.
This was the moment when we finally beat back the politics of fear, and doubt, and cynicism; the politics where we tear each other down instead of lifting this country up. This was the moment.
I expressed some doubts yesterday about whether Iowans would really take the leap and transcend the racism that still infects this country. I tend to think the worst of folks, and I went to bed last night so relieved to be wrong. Maybe this is the moment that we finally get over it and move beyond the fights of the 90s (one of the main reasons I'm not in camp Hillary) and our horrible legacy of racism. Who knows. But after last night, I am for the first time filled with something I haven't felt in quite some time: hope.
short update: Here is a link to Obama's statement regarding the ongoing violence in Kenya, for anyone who's interested. h/t bigpappa10834.
one last update: Obama's getting some nice free live coverage on MSNBC right now. He's speaking in Concord and hitting all the right notes:
I wanna go before the world and say America's back. America's back and we are ready to lead. But we won't just lead militarily. We will lead with the power of our values and the power of our ideals.
Now that is the Obama that caught my eye in 2004. Anyhoo, thanks for pumping this up onto the Rec list just as I have to leave to go buy textbooks for the Spring semester. :^P Seriously, I'm flattered and grateful that you enjoyed reading about the reaction in Kenya enough to hit the button. I'll check the comments when I get back, in the meantime, yall have fun with this. Now I have to go break the bank... sigh
*troll prophylactic: I'm not trying to imply Obama isn't substantive. I'm simply saying that I usually consider the symbolic value of a candidacy as being less important that the substantive issues driving a campaign.