World Watches as Obama Makes History | Voice of America - English
The world has watched with growing interest these last few days as the U.S. Democratic Party chose Barack Obama as its presidential candidate, the first African-American to be a major party nominee.
Europeans tend to watch American partyconventions with fascination and wonder - the carnival atmosphere, theballoons, placards and fireworks are all far removed from the much morestaid European political norms. But, this particular presidential contest has stirred a great deal of fascination and the reason is Barack Obama. Heis the first African-American chosen by a mainstream, major politicalparty as its candidate and the first one with a realistic shot at theWhite House. But, Barack Obama is also young, articulate and talksabout hopes and dreams. That message clearly resonated with the more than 200,000 people who turned out in Berlin to hear Obama speak there in July. Hiswords also seem to strike a chord with many across the globe. Onewoman in China, who gives her name as Mrs. Zhao, tells VOA she thinksObama is inspirational. He's young she says, and "when he speakshe's really able to say, how shall I put it, inspirational things.America needs this kind of voice." Another person on the streetsof Beijing says he is also impressed. "He's friendly and he cares aboutcitizens, he cares about people," he said. In parts of theMiddle East reactions were less effusive and any choice for U.S.president will be viewed through the prism of the local situation. A young Israeli medical student who gave his name only as Shai, told VOA he likes Obama, but has concerns. "I'mafraid he will not be as hard with Iran as we wish he would be," hesaid. "The other [issue]? I hope he will be hard with Israel and forceit to withdraw from the West Bank and to form a Palestinian state, butI am sure he will not do so. But, I'm sure John McCain will not do so[either]." Reaction to Obama was even tougher in traditionallyArab East Jerusalem, where 65-year-old Jamal expressed serious andoften-heard doubts about American policy, no matter who is in the WhiteHouse. "Mr. Obama is like Mr. Bush, like all of them," he said. "No onedoes anything for the Palestinians. Only for the Jewish. For thePalestinians, no one in America will do anything." But theskepticism of the Middle East is not shared everywhere. In Kenya, thehomeland of Barack Obama's African father, has been watching hispresidential campaign with a combination of interest and pride. Speakingwith VOA from the streets of Nairobi, Peter Odhiambo, 59,describes Obama as young, energetic, visionary. "One thing is thatObama is connected to Africa, then he is close to Africa and he knows alot about Africa," he said. Several people cited Obama's Kenyanbackground and said they felt he would do more to help disadvantagedpeople in Africa and elsewhere. Travel agent, Mercy Kamau saysObama's candidacy is a dream come true for many Africans. "I think he'sa great role model for Afro-Americans and for the Africans at large,"said Kamau. In Europe, Barack Obama's acceptance speech inDenver was carried on many television screens across the continent, hispicture made every front page of every major newspaper. In itsfront-page headline the British daily, the described Obama'scandidacy as a "date with destiny."