Holiday...

Well..

I havent written for a long time. no, i havent been abroad or working overttime! I am on holiday. after for months running after Obama and the elections, that I watched far more detailed than my own, after going to catch Vikings in Iceland, I wanted to leave work for sometime and REST!! So I'm in the most wonderful city in Turkey-IZMIR!!! (of course after Istanbul)... I am with my family, my friends I love incredibly in my life.. The woman I call my soul-mate, and the rest of the gang!!!

So see you later all... I am having as usual one of the best times in my life!!!::)) You are invited. If you are curious of how much fun we have look at the picture!!

kiss....

Goodbye US elections, hi to danger!!!

After the elections, life seems like so empty... No more conventions, no more rallies. no more dirty words for gaining votes...
Actually my travels to US seem to end too. There are a lot of things that I miss there... All those excitement, deadlines, rushing, sending pictures in the middle of the streets::))

I wish I could stay there more, but I dont think the inauguration on 20th January is worth to go for one day...
I have caught the election race very lately, 1,5 year ago but I guess I got the best pieces... Super Tuesday was awesome... And then came the wonderful Conventions... Magnificent speech of Bill Clinton, and of course the incredible night at Invesco field to listen to Obama... Thanks to everyone that helped me witness that history...
Now I am trying to go to another end of the world. Where the luxury of States is over and "real danger" begins. I havent decided yet, but hope to send you the pictures and stories soon... Of course if I am not kidnapped or....

Barack Obama-on YouTube Mania!!!

Just a short note...

I clicked on youtube to watch obama's victory speech. But came across with hundreds of videos posted by the people that were there, in Grant Park, Chicago. I guess they tell all the world a lot about the joy we have witnessed on that historic night.

And I must confess that between taking pictures and interviewing people, I havent heard of the countdown. It does sound fantastic. But to get the real "screams"!!!, find the video posted by "rtorres", with the title  "Announcement at Grant Park that Obama is president"... Real Crazy!!!

Is Obamamania exaggeration?

After a long working week in US, I have been to the office in Istanbul today, with lots of questions about how was the history witnessing, the crowd, the atmosphere... Being there and here right from the depth is very different. I still think about the election night and what me and all the people around me have been through. And I believe I will be like that more. 

 

However, some of my colleagues think that the world exaggerates Obama. All those celebrations, gigantic crowd, that PR... Maybe they can be right in a way. I have been the States only 3 times, it can be little for many, but one of the impressions I had in States is the exaggeration. In Denver during the conventions, it wasnt a party gathering but a big entertainment  with lots of spot lights... Behind the doors there were no lights but dim discussion "parties" I guess...

So behind all the glamorous "Obamamania", all the hope can fade in a little while-at least they say...

But in Turkey, we look at things only from the perspective of "which is best for Turkey." If he is in our benefit, then he is perfect. Of course this can be right, but for me very narrow thinking. There is a much broader word called: global... For what is beneficial to globe can give no harm to Turkey.

 

I am still shaken, maybe because I was there I donot know, about a black man elected as president. A man that havent been known before the magnificent speech he made 2004 Democratic Convention (listen to youtube-or ktunnel, esp. the part about blue states and red states. a new leader was born that day).

As Paul Krugmann said in his article on NYT right after the elections: If the election of our first African-american president didnt stir you, if it didnt leave you teary-eyed and proud of your country, there is something wrong with you:))...

enjoy more...

(to be continued: Muslim's feelings on the new possible posts in Obama cabinet...)

BARACK-FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT

Today is 6 Nov.

Yesterday, United States woke up to a brand new world. And the world also. 

It was such a historical night which i can never even try to explain with words... There were more than 250.000 people gathered in Grant Park in Chicago on the election night. There were lines up to 2 kilometers. And what I have seen was that it was so packed with young people and blacks... Actually it was their night.

Youngsters that campaigned for 20 months to elect Barack Obama as the president of United States. They call them the "Virgin Voters":))

Blacks that have been dreaming about this day, a day that would never come. 

But it came. When the clocks hit 10.35 in Chicago, on the gigantic billboard of CNN there appeared one sentence: BARACK OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT...

I will never forget what I have seen, what I have felt and what I have witnessed on that night. Everybody was screaming, hugging each other, and shouting "Yes We Did"...

World cannot change in one day, in one month even in one year...But I have a hope that things can really go much better than a Bush administration for 8 years.

Of course Obama will not have a magic wand in his hand, but at least he is elected now. And there is no need to think about the near future, at least not for the next one week. So let the world celebrate the first black president of US, Barack...