Originally Posted by rekop

We received this letter from my husband's brother Pat, a prominent microbiologist at the University of Minnesota - a rare opportunity to see firsthand how others think about our country....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 3:10 PM
Subject: The election


Dear Friends,
No matter how you voted or the angle of your political leanings, the letter I've attached from a former Kenyan student should increase your pride in our great nation. I suspect that with passage of just one week since the election we are less hated, have fewer enemies and are actually safer than anytime in the past 10 yrs. Ruquya gave me permission to distribute her letter.

Pat


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From a former Kenyan microbiology student who worked in my lab 10yrs ago and now lives
in Dubai UAE - Pat
11/6/2008

Dear Pat,
A thousand congratulations to you and to all Americans! I cannot begin to describe the emotions that I experienced as I followed the events of November 4th. I stayed up all night (we are 9 hours ahead of EST); slept at 2 am and was up at 5 am to monitor the polls! I can't tell you the tears that people, young and old, were crying here. My aunt was out and out boohooing.

Everybody out here is overjoyed by the courage and resolve of the American majority. Even the most rabid anti-America fanatics have come out and shaken their heads in awe. After the announcement, someone quoted a verse from the Holy Qur'an defining a truly democratic country and egalitarian society. He declared that such a thing exists only in the U.S.A., as has just been proven now. The Bush's of this world can't take that away from the people. People are hopeful that the radical zealots will be robbed of their justifications for their ideology.

I can assure you a lot of people's views about the U.S. have really been overturned by the events of the past few weeks. People have been exposed to, and paid attention to, a side of that country that they had never seen; the side that hollywood does not show and a side that most U.S. foreign policies and their repercussions obliterate. Young people especially have really embraced the spirit of Obama and the ideal of the American Dream; the idea that you can be what you want to be and you can make a ifference in your life, your community, your country and the world. I personally believe that that is a really powerful ideal for the young people in this part of the world. Young people have been really encouraged by the courage and determination of the youth of America and the role they played in this.

My mantra to my family and friends throughout this election season has been, "one thing I know about Americans is that if they wake up one day and say enough is enough about something, then nothing can stand in their way". The America I know is a place where I was welcomed, encouraged, teased, dared and challenged to believe in myself, work hard and be the best I can be. I'm not saying it's Utopia. It has it's problems and negatives. But I rejected Bush's projected image of that country and society. I thank God Americans tossed him and his band of thieves and lunatics out.

I know the President and the American people have a lot of difficult work ahead but I am confident most of it can be done and will be accomplished. The whole world wants to be a part of that success, Regular people as well as world leaders. So that's a start.

Kenya declared today a public holiday....Obama Day. here's partying everywhere. The youth have declared immediate mobilization and preparations for 2012 elections in Kenya to get rid of the corrupt and divisive old guard and usher in a new cycle of leadership and democracy. They have declared YES WE CAN!

And how are you doing? I hope everything is going well with you.

Take care and talk to you soon.

Ruqaya