One of the most awaited moments of the beginning of Barak Obama’s presidency was certainly his debut on the international scene – that just happened this past week at the G20 meeting in Strasbourg, France (one of the most spectacularly boring cities I’ve ever visited). While most of the US press focused on Michelle Obama’s wardrobe and how the couple navigated the rigid british royal etiquette, some new organizations (most notably Fox News) noticed the huge change in language and content from the previous administration. And while the most conservative commentators feared the effects of this new attitude, it sounded very right to me. As I’ve told anyone who asked , the main relational problem that the USA is facing today concerns its place as a nation among other equal nations. I believe the new White House language will not only improve US international relations, making it much easier for americans to travel abroad (without being hassled about US foreign policy), but in time will substantially improve US security both here and worldwide.
Plus, there’s another more subtle but perhaps even more important change in Obama’s words: he knows the value of symbolic speaking. This is an essential (and long awaited, at least by me) change, especially when addressing those parts of the world where symbolic language (and acts, such as the 9/11 attacks) is the most understood. So, once again, I’m glad mr Obama is in command. Now there’s just one more thing he needs to do…