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It is a bright morning in America, Denmark and the entire European Union because U.S. President Barack H. Obama has been re-elected.
Normally I pass presidential elections quietly by voting and then that Tuesday night I watch movies and awaken the next morning to see if I got my wish.
This year, after after some unusual and severe problems with my mail delivery in Copenhagen (and quite a few emails and phone calls), that affected my ability to vote in the US elections, I registered to vote at Café Globen, a tasty little place off Nørre Farimagsgade in the center of Copenhagen. Democrats Abroad did a great job getting the word out and making sure the American expatriate community was registered to vote for our next president. I finally got my absentee ballot and voted. Now, I was ready. thousands of miles away, to wait out the results of the election.
My American dream includes being able to live and work in Denmark, a country that is a friend and supporter of the USA and which benefits from the USA. I have been waiting for three (3) years for my green card application to be properly processed by Danish immigration (I have the 100 points required), and hopefully my green card will be ready soon. Meanwhile, part of my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is in being in Denmark, a little land where I have made friends and established a life the last six (6) years.
Although you are not required to reveal your political preferences in the USA, I openly state, I am a PROUD Democrat. I am also a very PROUD supporter of Barack H. Obama. I like the way he handles himself. His diplomatic nature, his intelligence, his skills as an attorney, his sense of humanity, his love for community, his dedication to his family, and other things make me proud to support him.
Imagine my surprise and joy when an American expat friend told me she could get me a ticket to spend the night at Jyllands-Posten Politikens Hus on election night. We would be right there, with other, watching the results as the polls closed and the numbers were calculated. Dance, drink, celebrate and see the outcome of an election that so affects Denmark, the European Union and the entire world.
What a night it was. Starting at 10:00pm, the place was already packed with Danes and Americans, including Danish and American Romney supporters, but we won’t talk about that, lol). Some famous Danish singer/songwriters performedImage may be NSFW.
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and amazingly enough, I knew some of the songs, although only the English versions. The most touching moment came for me when we sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”. I cried while I sang because I knew the election would be close, with so many voting “against Obama” and not actually “For Romney” and how disastrous it would be for the USA and the world if Romney won. Historically, Democratic presidents get along better with the European Union.
We had come so far an elected Obama, truly presidential man, once. Would the American people come out again in force and vote for him to remain in office? I had a cup of expresso so I would stay awake until what might prove to be the bitter end.
Over the last 4 years, under President Barack Obama, I have had more hope for the USA and seen some return to the values that make the USA a mighty superpower and a voice of integrity. I have seen the American Dream receive new life. I listen to the things my Danish friends and acquaintances say. It makes me proud that my president inspires such positive words and thoughts in people outside the USA. Yes, it DOES matter what other countries think of the USA. Going back the founders of the USA, we must remember that Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and the lot of them were diplomats who were adept at wielding words and used them instead of firing a gun, when at all possible. They knew the power of rhetoric, the power of the word, the power of the pen. The USA is a country that had to fight to come into existence, but besides power, it is also a country of intelligence, spirit and humanity. Obama symbolizes these things.
If you looked for me, I was often over at the food table getting more chicken wings and potato salad, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Quality Street chocolates. There were some great short speeches, including one by U.S. Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton.Image may be NSFW.
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A member of the Danish Parliament who was from the Conservative Party spoke in support of the American Republican Party and Romney, and he didn’t many “boos” but he didn’t get many claps either. But I am not sure the Danish Conservative Party can really accurately compare itself to the American Republican Party. Anyway, clearly, it was a room full of Democrats and Danish Obama supporters. There were jokes here and there about how Danes feel they should be able to vote in U.S. presidential elections.
When the live band started up, I wasn’t going to let this night go down quietly. I grabbed her hand and said “Let’s dance!” and dance, we did. The party really started as we danced, and the band played a few lively songs before settling into a blues and jazz mood.
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What a night! I even got to pose with my friend Stephanie and my president. “Your president?” you may ask. Yes, I do mean it possessively and there are millions of us who refer to President Barack H. Obama as “my president” because he IS for the people and he knows he is where he is because of/by the people.
When the first polls began closing and the numbers began coming in, it was tense, but as soon as we saw what was happening in New England and Florida, confidence and shouts of joy began to rise in the crowd. The middle of the USA went Republican, as expected, but there were also some surprises and then the West Coast, as we knew it would (woohoo to my voting state of California with our 55 Electoral College votes!!).
But what was overwhelmingly joyful, awesome, marvelous, fantastic and so many other superlatives, was that by the morning light, not only had Barack H. Obama been re-elected by the American people in sheer numbers, she also took a STUNNING popular vote. That is a clear MANDATE from the American people and a broadcast to the entire world that there is hope, there is change and we are on track after a long time in the wilderness.
When Obama was finally declared President of the United States of America, Stephanie and I couldn’t help but hug one another and jump around for sheer joy, crying and laughing. I hope no one got photos of me i my dress, jumping in the air pumping my fists, lol, but YES, YES, Obama won! Oh happy day!!
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At 7:00am when we crawled out of Politikens Hus and walked to the bus, I was still wired on that one cup of expresso. Carrying my American flag, I rode the bus home and when the bus driver let me off at my stop, she wished me a good day and congratulated me. “Thank YOU”, I said, glad that she, too, was glad that the USA has a good president at the helm again. The American dream is still alive, and when that also means a good morning in Denmark.