Americans Away From Home

I was invited to write a column for The Big Issue magazine called "Queen For A Day".
It's in the March 10-16 issue.

Here's the original article (slightly edited in the magazine).
I hope you enjoy it!

Carole
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Queen For A Day

By Carole Bell

President Obama is wildly popular! America leads the world in halting global warming; students rank high world-wide; crime's down; universal health care's working; the U.S. economy hums. America plays fairly in Law Of The Sea, Kyoto, and World Court matters. Obama sought British experience with orderly troop withdrawal (Middle East; more recently, Northern Ireland); U.S. security is strong; the world respects America again.

U.S. Constitutional freedoms returned; Congress getting things done; even top Republicans openly admire Obama for bringing Americans together.

Make it so!

Enthusiasm defines Americans; where people from other countries complain, Americans believe in "Can Do!" But Americans are feeling desperate. And anxious. Iraq, the economy, the environment, bitterly-divided Americans, what the world thinks of us, our children's future; the breadth of concerns is disheartening.

Why am I passionate about Obama? He fills me with hope. The best explanation I ever saw about why Ronald Reagan beat Walter Mondale was that to Mondale, every day was April 15 (when Americans pay taxes), while to Reagan, every day was the Fourth of July. While Hillary highlights problems, Obama encourages us to find solutions together.

I'm fed up with feeling cynical. I've had it with the swagger. We have real problems: Katrina, natural disasters, crumbling infrastructure; education, health care, jobs. I'd love a President who's smart, empathic, transparent. I'd love a President who's inspiring. I'd love a President who transcends petty politics, who changes the status quo.

Obama's morphed young people's distrust into belief; he's galvanized hearts into action. Mine too!

I never did anything like this before. I've organised the London Obama Meetup, done fundraising for the first time, learning that asking for money's not easy! My new website gives U.S. election info for Americans and interested non-Americans; I've reached out to Obama Meetups in Paris, Austria, and Tokyo.

Obama's different: while for many, politicians in general are turn-offs, Obama smells authentic. I feel happy working for him, believing he'll help. For eight years, Republicans have played on dividing Americans for their selfish goals; I believe Obama will mega-change that. Panaceas are unrealistic, but relatively better, I'll settle for.

Americans overseas report their feelings are stirred up for the first time in years. To be an American out of the U.S. at this time in history is to be urgently aware that America needs fixing.

The UK Obama Meetup's grown exponentially; members feel desperate to "take back America". Over 1500 Americans voted in the UK Primary, with Obama supporters appearing to vastly outnumber those of other candidates.

At our February Meetup, a man named Siggy accompanied his British wife. Here's how he introduced himself: "I'm from Iceland. There are 270 countries in this world. Who is the American President is important to these countries. Do Americans have any idea of that?"

Several British people at the Meetup announced they'd formed "Labour4Obama". (They cautioned, this was not the Labour Party, but just Labour Party members; they insisted they don't speak for Gordon Brown).

Do a lot of Americans abroad support Obama? Without a doubt. Why? The best answer's from Paulette, of the Paris Obama Meetup: "We care no matter where we live."

If I really were Queen for the Day, I'd ask everyone to appreciate flowers, and to grow more. I'd demand that parents teach children to revere life, so there'd be fewer murders. I'd cure disease, ban cruelty, and make people really understand what it's like to walk in another person's shoes. Oh, and of course, I'd decree world peace.

©Carole Bell 2008
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Carole Bell is the American organiser of the UK Obama Meetup, with 230 members.
Her website for Americans overseas can be found at: http://www.americans-away-from-home.com/
A writer and professional speaker, her book, For Men Only: How To Make A Woman Feel Beautiful! will be published next year.