when matched up with Obama-Biden! Tonight I held an event in our Lounge Bar for Democrats Abroad and anyone interested in the US Election. I showed the DVD I recorded of the last night of the Dem Convention - it's hard to believe it was only 8 days ago. We interrupted the usual screening of "Casablanca" and as we watched Barack Obama's acceptance speech I was again struck by how wonderful and uplifting the Democratic Convention was. Granted, it was a lot more pleasant watching him speak at 8:30pm rather than 3am. As he spoke, I loved looking at the emotions of the audience, and their diversity was a totally positive and prideful moment in American history. Barack took us to "the Mountaintop", then several days later McSame picked a sidekick that brought the electorate crashing down to earth. Quite bizarre tales yet to come out of Alaska, I suspect. Maybe this is what it took to bring many of the undecideds back to their senses. I hope so, the stakes this time are way higher than they were in 2000 or 2004, and the standing of the United States in the world can get no lower. Take it from me, and this is the 4th Presidential election I've experienced since I left the U.S. to live abroad in 1985. Tonight, as we were watching the speech 3 young women who'd finished their dinners downstairs were taking a tour of the restaurant and passed by us watching the speech. Our Maitre d'Hotel told me they were Obama supporters. They were literally shocked that Americans outside their country would be thinking about the elections. I told them about Democrats Abroad, and this year "Republicans Abroad for Obama" launched by our dear Frederick Vreeland, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco under Bush I. I wanted them to know those of us who live outside the U.S. don't love our country any less than those at home, and maybe, because we live everyday with the consequences of U.S. actions abroad, we may love it even more. |
