As you know, I am spending a week in Maspalomas, Canary Islands, Spain—-doing some running thru the scenic beach of Meloneras, with the sea to my right and the dunes to my left, the wind sometimes pushing me, while at times I go against it, but, in any case, what Runner’s World would call “a rave run.”
It is Election Day in the U.S. (yes, I voted in Tampa before I left on this trip), and it provides a magnificent perspective to see how others view us, especially the Spanish newspapers.
A sampling of three of the major national dailies, El Pais, El Mundo, ABC, shows us that the Spanish, like the rest of the world, are extremely interested in how Americans choose their president, with editorialists and columnists expressing “how impressed and mesmerized” they are about the process.
What makes an American in Spain feel great is the fact that all three newspapers hint that this election will mark a turning point for the United States, and that the world will, again, think positively of our country. In the end, Europe does not want any country but the U.S. to continue to be the world’s number one superpower, and this election today gives them hope that America will be on its way back soon, reaffirming its place, and showing the others that, indeed, the United States is the land of opportunity, and that the American Dream does exist. Even if Senator Barack Obama does not win this election, just the fact that he has gotten this far, shows that even someone who did not belong the political establishment, came from humble backgrounds and had a strange sounding name, can aspire to the highest post in the land.
After a long spell of reading so many negative comments about the U.S., it was refreshing and a sense of pride to see that others are watching our democratic process carefully, commenting on it positively, and, in a way, positively envious of the whole thing.
Because of that, I put on my US-flag bandana, running proudly on the beach and, like the rest of the world, waiting for the results of this historic election.
Highlights of the coverage
El Pais: with an army of correspondents and commentators reporting directly from the U.S., El Pais seldom disappoints; it provided everything one could possibly want to know about the elections, with ample graphics of how a President is elected, and lengthy profiles of both candidates on the last day of the long campaign.
Robust commentary brought readers up to speed on the trajectory that both both presidential candidates to where they stand today. Thorough is the word.
Lead headline: USA chooses today between past and future
http://www.elpais.es
El Mundo: I loved the fact that El Mundo sent one of his journalists to Kenya, to interview Obama’s relatives there. The reportage was accompanied by photos, plus a good human interest story out of Senator Obama School, in the town where Obama’s family lives.
Lead headline: Voters crowd polling places
http://www.elmundo.es
ABC: One of the most politically conservative newspapers, ABC opened with an editorial in which it forecasts that President George W. Bush will be one of those presidents whose accomplishments will be appreciated only a long time after his departure from the White House. The editorial cites President Harry Truman as an example of an unpopular leader during his time in office, only to be revindicated later.
Lead headline: Massive participation for a historic election
htto://www.abc.es
TheMarioBlog posting #135