Thursday, October 23, 2008

NYTimes.com Op-Ed:Rebranding the U.S. With Obama

Nicholas D. Kristof

"...cooperation is essential to address 21st-century challenges; you can't fire cruise missiles at the global financial crisis."

The other day I had a conversation with a Beijing friend and I mentioned that Barack Obama was leading in the presidential race:

She: Obama? But he's the black man, isn't he?
Me: Yes, exactly.

She: But surely a black man couldn't become president of the United States?
Me: It looks as if he'll be elected.

She: But president? That's such an important job! In America, I thought blacks were janitors and laborers.
Me: No, blacks have all kinds of jobs.

She: What do white people think about that, about getting a black president? Are they upset? Are they angry?
Me: No, of course not! If Obama is elected, it'll be because white people voted for him.
[Long pause.]

She: Really? Unbelievable! What an amazing country

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