What Obama means to the Baltics (Baltic Times, LATVIA)

Nov 12, 2008
by Monika Hanley

RIGA - The world was forever changed Nov. 4, as news of the election of the U.S.’s first African-American president resounded across the globe.

Kenya, the home country of Obama’s father, was rejoicing and singing as the news reached them. In the U.S., an unprecedented reaction to the election results was witnessed from Seattle to Washington D.C. – roads were closed down and blocked off as people took to the streets, dancing and singing, and wrapped in American flags, most celebrating until the early hours of the morning.

Though the Republican U.S. ambassador to Latvia, Charles Larson, looked visibly disappointed, he agreed with members of the government and locals on one thing. Obama means change.

“This is a historic and exciting day,” he said.

There are worries that he won’t be able to live up to the wild expectations that some people have, but none doubt that changes are coming.

BALTIC REACTION

“We’ll see what happens,” said local Latvian teacher Juris Klavins, who is hesitant to jump on the bandwagon of excited Obama fanatics. This seems to be the norm across the Baltics, a region that historically never hurries to accept new leadership too soon.

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