Recently, there was a clip on TV about Japanese business people learning English using Obama’s speeches as models. It is pretty clear why this is a new trend and why they didn’t use Bushisms.

This is George Bush speaking, it sums up what we had to listen to for 8 years!

George Bush’s Speech

Oh, what a difference – listen to Obama speak:
Obama’s Inaugural Address

Now let’s compare that again: George W. Bush tells Pope Benedict that he made an awesome speech in Washington D.C. in April of 2008.
“That’s an awesome speech, Pope Benedict! “

The recent election was remarkable and historic and one that will be remembered for many years to come; not only because of the incredible turn-out of young people, with 23 million young Americans under the age of 30 voting, a turn-out this country hasn’t seen since the 70s, but also because it was an election that was felt around the world.

On the night of the election results, people could be seen dancing, crying, and celebrating all over the world, from the homeland of Obama’s father, Kenya, to countries that had zero obvious connections whatsoever to the election.

No connection except for the fact that Obama in office means better foreign relations, better foreign diplomacy and more intelligent and informed decisions. At home, many Americans were proud to be called Americans again, Facebook status messages erupted with relief and jubilation, and newscasters predicted a surge in patriotism.

And it was an election to which the whole world reacted and rejoiced. French President Sarkozy wrote that the election outcome “resonates well beyond your borders.” Former German ambassador to the US, Wolfgang Ischinger, declared that, “a new face offers Europe a new chance to remarry America.” Peru’s prime minister, Yehude Simon, emphasized that the Obama win was a win for many, stating, “Peru wins with the change; it’s a change that we all expected. God help us.” “Even Iraqi President Jalal Talabani publicly congratulated Obama on his win and stated that he looked “forward to the relations between our two countries under your mandate, and further consolidation and development in all fields.”

Maybe this will mean that fewer American travelers will feel they have to have the Canadian flag sewn on to their backpacks for fear of being identified as American and therefore “underappreciated”.