The election has been big news in France: even our 7th graders know the "yes we can" chant and are die-hard fans of Obama, though if you ask them why they have no idea.
While it seems like Americans came to terms several months ago with the reality that we could have a black president, the French couldn't believe it would actually happen. They seemed much more shocked up to the very last moment. Several teachers remarked on the irony that the French are dying to see Obama become president of the U.S., while they are sure that a person of color or someone from the Maghreb could not become president in France at this point.
America has also always been viewed (by the French) as being more deeply racist because of its history of slavery and segregation. But I think this election has shown people that race issues have just taken a larger place in the public eye in the U.S., meaning, that progress has been much more rapid.
La Nouvelle Observateur published a special issue on United States last month in which one columnist wrote that he sees Obama's election as a renewal of the image of the American dream--a dream that had all but disappeared in the minds of the French.
I have been playing Obama's acceptance speech for all my classes, which they really enjoy. I also made copies of my absentee ballot and have held mock elections in several classes. One class in particular took full advantage of the write-in option. Santa Claus won with 4 votes. None of the kids seems to have any idea who McCain is-- their only comments about him have to do with the fact that McCain name is most closely identified with a brand of frozen french fries...
It is sad to think that I spent much of my life under Bush, and was only politically aware for the last 2 disappointing elections. I wish that I could have been in the U.S. on this occasion.
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