An interesting letter from Dubai
 

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....
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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


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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

Fox news Friday listed countries with rapidly expanding internal terrorist connections.... The UAE was on the list.

How Wonderful!
 

This is a wonderful letter. Thanks for posting it. I feel the world has been uplifted by the results of this election. :)

Thanks for sharing
 

Rekop,
How interesting. I am not taking a side but just looking at this with an open mind. My daughter travels overseas and is hearing the same things. I much prefer hearing from educated people from overseas than just hearing the same opinions. I say again...it doesn't mean I agree, it just means I am open to hearing.
Thanks for sharing.

Ditto for me. It was just interesting to me to hear an outsider's perspective. And it was heartening to see how this election has motivated youths in other countries besides our own and shown them that their actions can made a real difference in their lives.

No good turn goes unpunished
 

I noticed the author of this is from Kenya. Too bad this person hasn't taken the time or had the inclination to understand that the "radical zealot" and "thief and lunatic", George Bush, has spent more to improve the lives of people in Africa than any other President or any other country in the world.

NJBlue....donja know Bush bangin' is the name of the GAME.
 

Just like Carter who, as it was pointed out in another thread established the department of energy....spending $24 billion per year for the last 31 years TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL. Well it has more than doubled so what can one conclude? As long as the sheeple hear the words they like they are happy. Do they hold any accountable? Accountable, what the :cus: does that mean.
Like Carter, the Obama honeymoon will soon wane.
I can't wait to hear what the Bush bangers will have to say when things don't go as promised...sorta like the single digit approval rating of the Dem controlled Congress that accomplishes nothing! And NOTHING is ever said about it. Me thinks the revelers have a double standard.
Time will tell. History would advise all to not hold your breath.

BTK

What has this post got to do with a nice letter from Dubai?

Well, I think it has something to do with the fact that the "nice" letter from Dubai, really from Kenya, was not that nice. They don't seem to know how much President Bush has done for Africa. That's what I think anyway. I could be wrong.

BTK -- A couple of comments from someone you would call one of the "sheeple" since I don't see things the way you do. First, it really sounds like you want our new president to fail. While you may see that as a vindication of all you believe in, it seems to me it would be a pretty hollow victory.

Second, I find your use of sheeple to be very annoying. That may indeed have been your intention, but I for one have stopped reading your posts and now only do so by accident. If others also stop reading your posts, that will leave you preaching to your own little choir. Again a pretty hollow victory.

Isn't it time to stop the insulting comments?

[QUOTE=another Linda;172880]
First, it really sounds like you want our new president to fail. While you may see that as a vindication of all you believe in, it seems to me it would be a pretty hollow victory.

Second, I find your use of sheeple to be very annoying
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Linda, I agree.

I would have preferred a McCain/Romney outcome. But we didn't get that choice, did we, and now we have President Elect Obama!!

I am very impressed at everything he has said and done since the election results were announced. I truly think he will bring a fresh new vitality to the office of the President.

And I think it is about time we all get behind our new President and pray for his success. God bless America.

I swore I wasn't going to post on TOTV anymore, but I couldn't let this go by. Here's another link which describes food aid to Africa in general, and considers actual aid to Kenya. http://74.6.239.67/search/cache?ei=U...icp=1&.intl=us
Basically it says that the actual food arriving there is about half of what it used to be. But all that aside, if you read the letter from Dubai carefully, you'd see that the student lived in Kenya till probably late teens, then spent at least 6 years in America attending university and obtaining advanced degrees, and now lives in Dubai. So, to say that the person "didn't take the time or have the inclination", is being pretty shortsighted. You don't know what that person's circumstances were in Kenya, and if they leave the country when they are a teenager, any aide donations would be meaningless for them. In addition, a person's view of another country is based on any number of actions by that country. Bush's foreign policy decisions have been panned by countries across the globe. What the letter from Dubai does indicate though, is that some foreignors consider Bush a lunatic. And I guess with U.S. approval ratings as low as he has, many Americans agree.

another linda...you are wrong in
 

your first allegation. Failure of the new President never entered my mind.
I like others use favorite references to select groups of those involved....isn't the first amendment wonderful? You see if all those against the current administration, use their continual bashing and select names like "Bushie" and others....I guess it is OK for us not of the same bent to speak just as freely.
I too get weary of the swame old :cus: from the same old partisan purveyors...nothing said deters them and I am not deterred either.
I have a strong opinion about those who do nothing....I have a stronger opinion about those who look at everything like Nancy Pelosi does...if you are the other party I am against it.
And my last even stronger opinion is the one I have regarding those blind followers of the media and their party....regardless of subject matter...and this is by no means relegated to either party...both are guilty of it.
My attitude is if you don't have thick enough skin to take it as well as dish it out one should not come to this forum. And isn't great to have the opportunity to either read it or not, believe it or not, like it or not....comes with being a US citizen.

On your allegation about the new President failing...I am and haver been a proponent of, I will express my measure of him one year from now. Until then, I will not subscride to accolades undeserved. As in previous posts, the only measure of what he has said will be promises kept VS promises made.

In closing I will say when reading something if the shoe fits then wear it, if not, it ain't fer you!!!!

BTK

GREAT POST BTK.....could not agree more with you ! NOBODY wants the President Elect to fail in any way shape or form and I, in no way, understand those that feel any kind of comment that is not totally "in line" suggests that fact.

I am so glad to hear that the failure of our new president never entered your mind. Somehow with all the negative comments you posted over the last few months I formed that mistaken notion. I am so relieved to hear I was wrong.

And when you referred to “Bush bashers” I developed the notion that you thought criticism was somehow a bad thing. But it is such a comfort to know that you value the first amendment as much as I do. Imagine, we the sheeple can listen to Fox News and NPR, can read the New York Times and the National Inquirer. Or does that make us “blind followers of the media?”

When anyone takes the time to do a little research....
 

and then makes an informed decision, they are absolutely entitled to their beliefs and opinions. It does not matter whether right or wrong if that is what they believe. My commentary is when people ONLY parrot the media with no other basis.
My previous post surely can be viewed as negative if that is the way it is taken. However, if being negative means I am not in line with one or anothers thinking...and speaking to the contrary then that is ones choice to categorize that way. Also when I challenge, it does not necessarily have to be negative...if I am challenging what another believes, it is only negative to the one being challenged....if my challenge is not in line with their belief.

I am not a negative person. I am however a show me person. Results is what is important to me...I don't care who the party....their color...their religion....whatever. I view myself as a constructive non conformist.

My harranging of Bush bashing is there are some who cannot address an issue without putting it in some form of what Bush did, didn't or what ever. And I am not referring to the occasional bash...I am referring to those that can not even say good day with a link to a Bush comment....talk about negative.

I do believe there is more than normal categorizing on this forum that if one is not for what the other is in favor of then it is automatically negative.
That is exactly why I usually refer to Nancy Pelosi's comment during an interview BEFORE she became spealer of the house....she blatantly said her positions are easy....if it is from the ooposition she is against it.

And I do have a problem with those who are unhappy with Bush's performance, but have tolerance and patience and support for a Congress that has a significantly lower rating than Bush. And I do not accept the ongoing reelecting the dregs who are National disgraces.
I believe in minority reports (not race) having learned long ago to listen to the only one in the room who may not agree with what is being espoused....because it has been shown....at times they are they only one right and willing to stand and be conted.

I do not make oblique or indirect inuendo....if I didn't spell it out, I didn't intend it. Speculation and interpretation are in the eye/ear of the beholder, eh?

BTK

Just Curious.
 

BTK, I'm just curious as to why you think no one other than youself does any research? I find that very strange. :shrug:

Chelsea that's not what I said.....
 

My comments were intended for those who don't....PERIOD!

BTK:sigh:

My own meager attempt to make some sense of all of this......

1) The World, according to the media, is showing itself being overjoyed at the election of Mr. Obama to be the next US President. While it is comforting that the media, being the objective sort they are (no fainting, please), are reporting this planetary euphoria, what the reasons for such bliss are remain a mystery to me. For most of the World, watching what happens in the US is like folks in the US watching a World Cup soccer match between Sweden and Norway - it may be big there, but no great shakes here.

2) The US goes through this political metamorphasis every 4 years - just as often as there is a World Cup tournament. If there is any real interest or surprise elsewhere in the World, it is more in the sense that both still occur with regularity.

3) Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising factor outside the US was the fact that a person of color (am I still 'politically correct" in using this term?) in what keeps being insinuated as a racist society was elected President and had to capture votes from a majority of Caucasean citizens in order to succeed. The last equivalent upset in the Western political structure was Mrs. Thatcher becoming the UK's Prime Minister. Yes, the "melting-pot" concept does indeed work!

4) Do politicians make promises they don't keep? This is a no-brainer! If Mr. Obama keeps all (or even most) of his campaign promises and does not play semantic games on the intent versus the definition (as any decent lawyer knows how to do), he will be the first ever to do so - Party affiliation notwithstanding. So, those who desire to reserve high praise and accolation until there is performance on-the-job which can be measured/compared to the campaign promises (sort of like in baseball where a hitter's batting average is computed at hits-actually-made performance versus times-at-bat promises), are simply being pragmatic.

We're all in this together, and it's a safe bet to say all want this President-elect, the next Congress, and the American people themselves to succeed. We may not all agree on selected portions of any Governmental action, but that does not mean we don't all want overall success. The best and most successfull hitter in baseball did not get a hit 59.4% of the time during his best year (Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox, .406 batting average, 1941).

Even baseball's best hitter was boo'd when he played in opposing teams' ballparks and heard catcalls when he struck out at Fenway Park or made an error in the field. Mr. Obama and the current Congress should not expect any better treatment when they "strike out" in the promises made/kept ratio or drop the ball at any time.