Obamania Hits Europe

This story comes from the IHT:

According to Samuel Solvit, president of France's support committee for Barack Obama, the French have not been this excited about America since they shipped over the Statue of Liberty in 1885.

Obamania has gripped most of Europe. But the enthusiasm is particularly striking in France. This is where the disenchantment with U.S. foreign policy under the Bush administration has been the most vocal. And this is where the Continent's largest community of African immigrants and their descendants live.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before it happened. France is permeated with socialist ideologues, African immigrants, and saturated with multi-culturists, so it's only natural they love this guy. In fact, it's not only France that has adopted this view. The vast majority of the entire continent has become enamored with him, as well.

For years now, Europe has been wanting to promote this "all-inclusive" model as some atonement for past attitudes and actions that were a result of vehement nationalism, which directly resulted in two world wars that destroyed their continent and killed multiple millions of their own citizens. To the many that openly promote this ideology, Obama is a symbol of this spirit. They do not look at the whole of U.S. history, how it welcomed many of Europe's oppressed and persecuted over the years (to include those that came during the two world wars). They refuse to consider this nation afforded them much greater opportunities than could be had elsewhere at the time. Instead, they view Americans as hedonistic and materialistic.

After WWII, the European continent laid in ruins for a second time in less than half a century. Meanwhile, the U.S. prospered immediately afterward, with some of it a direct result of money made off of rebuilding. While Euros were struggling for basic necessities and repairing much needed and badly damaged infrastructure, Americans were getting used to commodities like television, rock & roll music, and hot rod cars. So naturally (as human nature often allows), America became a primary source of envy for many continentals.

Today, 63 years after the bloodbath created by Europeans, many of them are still envious.

But with this understanding of why Euros feel such jealousy towards Americans, comes something they fail to consider in their judgmental biases. Americans sacrificed much to help liberate Europe. Commodities like sugar, coffee, and gasoline were rationed. Many men went to lay down their lives while fighting for the cause, leaving women to operate the factories (many of which were converted to making armaments and supplies for the war effort to succeed).

Today, both Europe and America has embarked upon a new era. Many of that generation that made such sacrifices are dead and gone, or are so old they cannot participate fully in the realm of politics. And with the political scene being what it is today, they wouldn't want to even if they could. The generations that want Sen. Obama to be elected are primarily those that weren't alive in the days of blitzkrieg and genocide. Many, who were alive, are too young to understand the gravity of the situation. This goes for Americans and Europeans, alike.

These are those who see a world, where everything they do not like is unfair. Subsequently, someone must rise up and make it fair (SEE: 1930s Germany). In this world, we are taught that those who work hard for what they have are greedy and selfish. Those that choose not to work hard are disadvantaged and oppressed. And it is up to government to rectify this perceived disparity. Europeans have long felt this way. So when we look at Sen. Obama's website, read his proposals, and analyze his worldview, it should come as no surprise that the French (as well as the whole of Europe) are enamored with him.

Envy is a powerful thing. Planting the seeds of it will ensure its continued existence throughout the ages.