http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2010-03-15T17:44:49+00:00 DipNote Blogger T. J. Dowling writes:

@ Maria, I'd be happy to discuss Kenayn response to Obama election. It was in a word, huge.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/kenyans_celebrate_inauguration/ Mon Feb 02, 2009
Kenyan had all the reasons to celebrate. As a first black U.S. president Barack Obama has the mandate to restore Americas image in the world. Many Kenyans feel honored that one of their own has his named tied to this milestone in American history. Being a member of the Luo community from which Barack Obama Sn., originated, I feel very proud of this event. I always pray that the president will succeed in turning the economy around as well as build international bridges that the Bush Administration trashed during the last 8 years.

I will therefore take this opportunity to thank the U.S. embassy in Nairobi for allowing many Kenyans to witness history on the widescreen.

But celebrations aside!!! The hard work of building not only the U.S. economy but the entire world should fall on everyone's shoulders. Obama alone cannot revive the broken systems. We must all pitch in in our small ways to HELP rebuild our global village. I feel confident that with Hillary Clinton at the helm of the State Department the world can rally behind the U.S.A. as America regains it glory to lead the free world.

My dear Kenyans let us help rebuild through PEACE, RECONCILIATION, LOVE and UNITY.

God bless the U.S.A., Kenya and the entire global community.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/kenyans_celebrate_inauguration/ Thu Jan 29, 2009
Hello! My name is Maria, and I am a journalism student in the United States. I am working on a story right now about the Kenyan response to Obama's election, and this blog post was very interesting! Would you be willing to talk with me perhaps a little more about this issue, Mr. Dowling? Perhaps over e-mail?

I so look forward to hearing from you!

Maria]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/kenyans_celebrate_inauguration/ Wed Jan 28, 2009
I just wanted to say thank you to the Public affairs office for organizing the event. I wish I had stayed in Kenya a week longer. I could have shared the excitment of the moment with my fellow Kenyans. I decided that joing my fellow Americans in Washington DC would be the best thing to do. Boy was I wrong. As number 2m I didn't even make it close to the big screen. The cold was a killer. Imagine coming from Kenya and straight to DC! Please send a thank you note to whoever invited you to the big screen. You captured the moment.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/kenyans_celebrate_inauguration/ Tue Jan 27, 2009
MAURITANIA -- Over 250 guests convened on US embassy grounds to welcome the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama. The excitement was palpable at the entrance where a line of guests winded out the door into the parking lot just prior to the live swearing in. Each invitee was given an Obama pin and sticker and escorted to the tennis court which was transformed into a viewing area for the Inaugural event. Just outside the viewing area, Mauritanian artists displayed paintings in honor of the occasion, portraits of Obama made with seeds and sand, symbolizing progress and his African roots, as well has Obama in traditional clothing. Once inside guests were invited to have their photograph taken alongside a life-sized Obama cut. They were then printed on the spot -- at final count over 300 color photos distributed to guests. After brief remarks welcoming guests on this historic occasion, the Charge D'Affairs, Dennis Hankins, invited all to watch the live swearing-in on the French, Arabic and English televisions. Following the live viewing, TV personality Bios Diallo moderated a debate between civil society members, journalists, Mauritanians and Americans. They shared their immediate reactions to the speech and to the historic occasion for America, Mauritania and the world at large. Mauritanian Sociology Professor Dr. Kamara declared that "Obama's election is a huge step forward for American Democracy and proves an ability of a society to evolve, as Obama stated, 60 years ago blacks in America couldn't even go to the same places as whites." Hundreds of copies of the IIP publication "Barack Obama: 44th President" were available in French, English and Arabic -- over 500 were distributed. Free T-shirts, tea coasters, buttons, stickers and posters emblazoned with the now typical iconic Obama image in green and white, Mauritania's colors, were also available. At the exit guests were invited to choose from one of 3 ARS French translations of Obama's books, Dreams from My Father, The Audacity of Hope and his Discourse on Race. VIP guests in attendance included in Ambassador's from France, China and the Congo as well as the head of the National Association of Imams and the United Nations Representative. The event was widely covered in Arabic and French local press.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/kenyans_celebrate_inauguration/ Sat Jan 24, 2009