American Election in China

I knew the Steelers' Monday Night Football victory was a good sign. Just a few days ago a friend and a self-proclaimed 'die-hard Skins fan' told me he would be rooting for the Steelers Monday night. He called my attention to the fact that in each of the past 17 presidential elections, the outcome of the Redskins' last home game before the election would predict whether the incumbent party would win (if the Skins won) or lose. So, in short, if the Steelers won on Monday night in Washington, Obama would also win. A pretty good scenario in my world. The two things I've missed the most about not being in the US this fall have been Steelers football and presidential campaigning. Its in my Pittsburgh roots.

For as long as I can remember, I accompanied my parents to the polls and got to pull the levers they told me to pull. The last election I worked in a polling station in rural Maine and saw children accompany their parents. I hope those kids get as excited about elections and getting to vote as I do. I've been distracted by this election for the past few months. I anticipated this would happen and I had originally dreaded being in China for an election season. What I have found instead has been the opportunity to talk to many different Americans in China about the election. Its been an interesting fall and a good experience to hear different perspectives.

More importantly, however, I have see how China has reacted to this election. When I first got here, people already thought that Obama had won, that he had beaten Hillary Clinton. Then they learned about McCain and the real race. Recently, people have been obsessed with the idea that America could have a black president. They think America is a very racist society and are amazed that we can have a black president. We owe it to them to prove that we can take on this task.

Race aside, I have been coming to China for the past 8 years and have talked to a wide range of Chinese people about American politics, particularly foreign policy. I have seen many people here become increasingly angry, disappointed, and even disillusioned with the US because of of foreign actions. The Chinese are pleased with the prospects of 'Change' in foreign policy with the election of Obama. I know the US has a lot of domestic problems, of which foreign policy may not seem urgent for voters. But what the US does affects the world. And I know that (just about) 1.3 million Chinese are pleased with the election results in the US.

Oh and I should add that just about no one knows anything about the NFL or American football here. But its OK because some things are just more important.