blog - gObama 2008
Touch down in Europe with memories
Thursday, February 7, 2008
(London, UK - 9 a.m. local time)
Landed in Heathrow Airport after having the luxury of sleeping 4 hours inside the plane on a row of 4 empty chairs. I feel like this whole Obama/ Hillary thing has by-passed the old British world completely. The hype surrounding the election does certainly not transmit into the BBC morning news any longer.
After all the British are known for their eccentric and quaint reflections on all things American. They simply do not trust it all - before it effects them doing some business overseas.
I imagine what Tony Blair would answer if Obama asked him one day:"Why did you support the war in Iraq, Tony?” Tony answers: "Ahm... I played golf with George on his ranch in Texas. He lost and got really mad at me. What could I do? You gotta stand for change... innit?”
I guess Blair is history now and nobody on the streets (except him of course) really cares about the Middle East. Its too far, too abstract for British/ European voters. And does it not involve global thinking in peoples daily life's? Like the weather and sports does... rain, football and where to buy your second property is big news here in England!
I have to buy a news paper to know what the established press says...
Well, 12 hours later: I did read the Financial Times on my flight back to Berlin. An article under the title: Obama strikes a chord with revivalist style - message of change lures white voters sums it up. My neighbor passenger was reading the Daily Mail - I even glimpsed a picture of Obama on the front page... So, after all it looks like everyone is talking about him and Hillary. Including the German papers that I bought on Potsdamer Platz as I made my way to pick up my accreditation for Berlinale & Talent Campus around midnight.
I settled in quicker then expected. Berlinale buzz - will make me reminisce what it all means - in terms of finding the story of my docu. And as I unpacked from my gObama 2008 trip, one thing I thought of sharing with you --- before I settle in and pay my bills. It's the live CNN broadcast of Obama's speech after he got the first results on Super Duper Tuesday Night around 11.30 p.m. It's interesting, because it features a story that speaks to the larger theme of my film. Check it as an mp3 file above.