Does Barack Obama speak pleasantly?
<<Here in China people in general welcomed the news of Obama elected as the new president of the US. >>
Are you kiding me? From what I've read in those most popular forums in China, most joke that US has elected only a good salesman. To most Chinese, Obama is not attractive in terms of his looks and speeches.
This is a glorious day. We celebrate the change that President Obama will bring to America.
Woohoo! USA, land of liberty and unity.
<<This is a glorious day. We celebrate the change that President Obama will bring to America. >>
Lol! Meanwhile, Medvedev calls to increase presidential terms to 6 years from 4...
Claria, could you provide us with any sources backing your claim?
<<Claria Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:35 am GMT
<<Here in China people in general welcomed the news of Obama elected as the new president of the US. >>
Are you kiding me? From what I've read in those most popular forums in China, most joke that US has elected only a good salesman. To most Chinese, Obama is not attractive in terms of his looks and speeches. >>
By no means was I kidding!
Just tell me what "these most popular forums" you visited were.
I seriously wonder: Are you kidding?
Just to give you a glimpse of what messages most Chinese netizens has left regarding the election of Obama as the next president of the US on the most popular and best known portal website - sina, most of them very heart-warming, plus my rough translation.
2008-11-05 14:11:34 新浪网友 IP:222.82.49.*(新疆乌鲁木齐)
一个伟大的民族,一个伟大的国家,没有理由不强大.
A great nation and a great country. I see no reason why the US cannot be a strong power.
2008-11-05 17:04:45 新浪网友 IP:123.165.105.*(黑龙江哈尔滨)
没有谁能够生活在真空里，世界在变，美国也必然会变，这也是世界的期望，这更是美国人民的期望，逆行难长久，既使在再强大，也挡不住滚滚向前的历史洪流。愿美国能够变的美 好，愿美国历史的“光芒”能够再现，祝福美国人民。
The world is changing, so is America. I wish the US would become stronger. Best wishes for America.
[原帖] 新浪网友 IP:222.222.158.*(河北保定)
河北人民发给美国贺电，热烈祝贺奥巴马高票当选总统 [全部回贴]
Warm congratulations to Obama for his election as the US president.
[原帖] 新浪网友 IP:58.44.2.*(湖南)
奥巴马，希望你造福美国人民，不要战争要和平，不要萧条要繁荣！ [全部回贴]
Obama, I wish you would bring happiness and well-being to the American people, seek peace rather than wars, create prosperity rather than recession.
2008-11-05 16:18:49 新浪网友 IP:121.229.193.*(江苏南京)
47岁就能当选米国总统！也难怪米国能强大啊！1
在我国还是政坛上的毛孩子！！
A guy as young as 47 could be elected as the US president! No wonder America can be such a strong country.
2008-11-05 12:29:22 新浪网友 IP:194.138.202.*(德国)
世界上最强大的民主国家，一个有色人种少数裔候选人，当选总统，这是写入人类民主民权历史的时刻。
The most powerful democratic country in the world. The moment when a candidate like him with color and ethnic minority background was elected as the president would be written down into the human history of democracy and civil rights.
2008-11-05 12:35:19 新浪网友 IP:60.20.119.*(辽宁大连)
应该说是美国的民主体制造就了奥巴马，而不仅仅依靠其个人能力。
It should be noted that it is the US democratic system that gave birth to the emergence of Obama, whose success does not lie in his own talent alone.
2008-11-05 12:35:06 新浪网友 IP:61.175.228.*(浙江)
彻底否决了种族歧视！！！
美国真好，我爱你，美国
That completely vetoed racial discrimination.
America is truly good. I love America.
2008-11-05 12:45:00 新浪网友 IP:218.108.196.*(浙江杭州)
奥巴马当选美国总统，充分说明美国的民主选举制度有其一定的合理性和长久的生命力。奥巴马当选固然同他的竞选战略有关，也与美国的选举传统（喜欢换新鲜）、美国次贷危机而 引发的全球金融危机、伊拉克、阿富汗战争等有很大关系。但愿奥巴马上台后中美关系有一个长期健康稳定的发展，以造福于中美以至全世界人民。
Obama's success fully demonstrates the rationality and endurance of America's democratic system in its own right.
I hope his administration will see long-term heathy and steady development of China-US relations, and contribute to the well-being of China, America and the world at large.
2008-11-05 12:41:58 新浪网友 IP:116.234.67.*(上海)
和中国一样 那也是一片神奇的土地
Just like China, America is also a land of wonder.
2008-11-05 12:55:44 新浪网友 IP:60.0.59.*(河北石家庄)
一个如此民主的国家，其国运一定长盛不衰，祝福这样的国家。
Such a democratic country. It is destined to enjoy long-time prosperity.
Good luck, Ameica!
2008-11-05 12:58:20 新浪网友 IP:119.128.83.*(广东东莞)
随着黑人奥巴马的当选美国总统，美国又完成一次大变革，他们的国家变得更为团结和民主！
Obama's election as the US president as a black man shows that America has undergone a grand transformation once more. The US is becoming more unified and democractic!
Shumio, Claria is a Republican. They lost badly, and took it badly.
Is Obama really black or mulatto? People say he is the first black president in the History of the US, but in reality his mother was white. Probably if he was not educated by a white family he would never become president. At least educationally he is not black at all.
<<Is Obama really black or mulatto? People say he is the first black president in the History of the US, but in reality his mother was white. Probably if he was not educated by a white family he would never become president. At least educationally he is not black at all.>>
This is quite an interesting question, and since it has to do with definitions, I think it is fitting in this forum. As recently as 50 years ago a Louisiana a court ruled a fifteen-year-old-marriage to be void because the woman was 1/32nd African American (Black). She did not look black, she was not part of African American culture, and she had previously been ignorant of this. This illustrates what historical definitions of what Black meant. Today, it is more likely to be understood as physical appearance. With a white mother, Obama can be considered mulatto technically, but people tend to base race (and always have) on appearance. So, Barrack Obama is Black. As far as his education and upbringing, W.E.B. Dubois was educated at an Ivy leage school and I don't think that anyone would call him anything but African American. Yes, he was raised by a white mother and white grandparents, but his grandmother and grandparents were not subjected to or personally acquainted with the unique set of experiences that Obama, by the color of his skin and status as a minority, must have experienced throughout his life. As testament of this fact, we would not be having this discussion if his mother was Italian and his father was Norwegian. As soon as a minority race is inserted as part of the subject matter to be considered, it immediately changes the playing field. Obama can be no exception to this. It is also a mistake to say that one particular type of upbringing can be defined as African American and another as European American. Most polls illustrated that his race was, though a factor, a very minute part of the equation--taking a backseat to national and global economics, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Taxes, and Health care. I think I would be more proud of America if race was not a consideration at all but baby steps, one by one. It has taken more than two hundred years to get to this point. No other country can claim such a reckoning.
P.S. I am so excited. Obama, do those of us who cast our vote in your favor proud.
I believe Obama is four-square behind his black heritage, so yeah, I'd say he is the first 'true' black president.
One good thing that will come out of this is that our international reputation will soar; I don't know how it could have sunk any lower than it had under GWBush. Probably the whole world is rejoicing at his win.
Another benefit is that the African-American community will be energized to an extent that words cannot convey. Finally, it will be possible for a young African-American to say "Some day, I want to be President" without evoking a wince.
<<One good thing that will come out of this is that our international reputation will soar>>
Perhaps for a few months, but in the long run the reputation of the US, the West, and English will depend mainly on how good the economy is, and how much useful information there is available most readily in English.
If we continue to spiral downward into politically correct socialism and poverty, will anyone still want to learn English?
>><<One good thing that will come out of this is that our international reputation will soar>>
Perhaps for a few months, but in the long run the reputation of the US, the West, and English will depend mainly on how good the economy is, and how much useful information there is available most readily in English.
If we continue to spiral downward into politically correct socialism and poverty, will anyone still want to learn English?<<
Oh please - by European standards, Obama is practically a conservative, you must remember.
<<Perhaps for a few months, but in the long run the reputation of the US, the West, and English will depend mainly on how good the economy is, and how much useful information there is available most readily in English.
If we continue to spiral downward into politically correct socialism and poverty, will anyone still want to learn English?>>
I don't remember there being anything akin to a censure on freedom of expression in any of Obama's speeches or doctrines. And as for socialism, someones been listening to too many pundits, there is nothing more socialist in his propositions than the tax programs instated by Roosevelt, which turned around the economy and secured some 50 years of strong financial growth. Realism is always a good touchstone when debating politics.