Obama in Australia

Today is the day that many I have met through my fall travels through Burgundy, Walloon and Ireland have been waiting for, Obama’s inaugural. Countless times people in those countries have asked many questions about just what Americans think and feel about him. The question was answered in Nov. and I think collectively there is a sigh of relief.

I didn’t think about why Obama never once was mentioned to me on my recent trip to Australia. Until I opened a free copy of the Weekend Australian on my Qantas flight home. The big story in the Weekend Inquirer section was What Went Right…the record of the 43rd US President is reason for optimism – because of his continuing successes despite his misjudgments. The piece was very interesting and Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan is a brave man, though I didn't buy his reasons, he is definitely in the minority. I don’t mean to imply any thing about Australia’s stand. In fact they also have had soldiers die in Iraq; I just think reading local papers in very interesting. I however will join in the collective sigh of relief and wish President Obama nothing but good will; it is time to put the past to bed and Americans out of their misery.