tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849310166948684475.post5673663012679153203..comments2023-10-15T07:17:13.321-07:00Comments on Perspectives on Public Diplomacy: A New Era of Transatlantic Relations?Craig Haydenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120087845372435492noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849310166948684475.post-76274774449178817982009-01-30T12:50:00.000-08:002009-01-30T12:50:00.000-08:00I'll tag along on this post, if I may, since I als...I'll tag along on this post, if I may, since I also experienced Germany during the primaries. I was even lucky enough to receive a pin that was given to a German friend of mine at Oktoberfest that proclaimed "OBAMAFEST". The love for Obama is pretty strong throughout Europe and can be seen as a great type of public diplomacy. However, much of the media is, thankfully, also, realistic about our new president. This article (http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1088/global-press-inauguration-reaction) discusses not only the positive aspects of Barack Obama's election (Der Spiegel called it "How the US got it's groove back") but it also addresses the problems that this administration will face.<BR/> Now, to follow along with Nina's original post, it's not only Germans that believe that America shouldn't play such a large role in the world. I've seen polls, none of which I can seem to find at the time, that show that Americans also don't want to play such a huge part in the goings on of the rest of the world. This may, however, represent those Americans who are all for going back to America that loves isolationism.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714312718344411321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849310166948684475.post-48950963537458178762009-01-30T10:54:00.000-08:002009-01-30T10:54:00.000-08:00In response to Nina's post, I found an article fro...In response to Nina's post, I found an article from the International Herald Tribune about comparing Barack Obama to John F. Kennedy. <BR/>http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/06/europe/berlin.php <BR/><BR/>I studied abroad in Berlin last Spring semester during the primary season, and there was a strong support for Obama. There were polling places set up through Democrats Abroad so along with the other students in my program, I voted. I was worried that I would miss out on the hype of the political climate back home in the US but the Germans were just as excited about our election. Whenever I met someone new they always asked me if I liked Hilary or Obama, there was never any other choice for them. As Berliners, they have been tied to American politics since the end of WWII. American occupation has left a huge impact on the city--street names are named after US generals and the school that I attended, the Freie Universitaet, has buildings named after both President Ford and Kennedy. <BR/>The comparison to President Kennedy is a little early because our President has just taken office, but the article mentions that Obama represents change in American policies. A reporter from the Tagesspiegal said "Despite the fact that Obama is not associated with Europe in general or Germany in particular, he has a cultural record that the rest of the field does not have, a better international and intercultural record." He also named Obama the Black Kennedy. <BR/>Even though the comparison to Kennedy is a great one, it gives hope that our new administration will strive for more cooperation with Europe, and at least the German people are ready to strive for change.laurablylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700433823764148881noreply@blogger.com