goodwill

i wasn't in europe on 9/11. i moved over here a brief month later. i'd lived in prague before and was somewhat surprised at the goodwill feelings shown toward americans and the desire to hear our stories about that day. most people liked america then (clinton had been adored) but this was at a level beyond the norm.

that didn't last very long. i'm not really sure when it changed, but certainly by the start of the war in iraq in early 2003 people in europe didn't display such good feelings toward america.

within a couple years i was constantly asked my opinion on the war (this has waned in the last 2 or so years for some reason), and my opinion on bush (laughter always ensued when i said i didn't think he was an idiot). and most europeans i talked to, while they still enjoyed the company of american people, had nothing nice to say about america as a whole and her government, specifically.

it's hard to explain what i'm feeling today. watching tv and reading stories online and seeing people around the world (and not just the expats living elsewhere) celebrating...what? american government?! it's unreal. and i can't help but compare it to 9/11.

i heard someone say that, on 9/11, everyone in the world felt the pain and all were new yorkers. i feel the same now, that the world is proud of america and everyone wants to share in the joy of what we have done. something great has happened and everyone wants to participate.

and, just as after 9/11, decisions were made and that goodwill swirled down the drain, there are choices to be made. and this goodwill will either continue or it will slip through our fingers. i hope obama makes good decisions. i hope that having a president with the middle name Hussein will indeed make radical islamists think twice about the evil of america. i hope that our country, which has been gashed and slashed by divisive and deceitful politics, can heal and come together.

we'll have to see.