Every day, many new stories are published about the election and the candidates. All of these stories have ruled our news circulation in the United States for months, but how do other countries view our election? As an assignment for my international journalism class, we were told to research publications in other countries and how they cover our election. Focusing on one specific article from CNN, 10 international journalists discussed how their country and culture write and think about our upcoming election.
Countries around the world look up to the United States as a progressive country who wears freedom on our sleeve. Our election has received great attention from all parts of the world and I find it interesting and educating to read their opinion on our next president.
Canada’s friendly view
Beginning with our neighboring country of Canada, what I gained from the article was how they are sympathetic towards us about our hard decision of who we would rather choose to be our president. An example of this, is a movement created by a creative agency in Toronto called #TellAmericaItsGreat, with a viral video of Canadians telling Americans how special they are. The purpose of the movement and the video is to remind Americans that, regardless of who ends up taking office, it will all be okay. Jonathan Kay, editor of The Walrus magazine also wrote how “America is a friend,” illustrating the relationship Canadians have with Americans.
South Africa's disappointment
When President Obama was inaugurated into office, Africans were extremely proud to see an African-American with a beautiful family claiming residency in the White House. However, with Donald Trump in talks of becoming the next president, South Africans see it as a step back for the United States. South Africans fear how poorly Trump speaks about minorities in the United States and how this will affect African-Americans and Africans living in the United States.
How Japan is being used in the election
Another interesting country with a different viewpoint was Japan. As a country who has struggled with a reputation in the United States dating back to the second World War, the Japanese are sad to see how their country is being used in the election. Correspondent for Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, Koya Ozeki explains how Trump has combined Japan with China and Mexico as the countries who are ruining the United States. Both candidates use Japan as a country we need to overcome, in order to win the favor of the American people.
Where the election is least popular
India, being the second biggest country in the world with a population of 1.2 billion people, there are many who have barely even heard of the name Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. What caught the eye of the Indian people was Trump’s remark to a man wearing a turban at one of his rallies. At a rally in Iowa, a protester was carrying a sign that read “Stop Hate” and was kicked out of the rally when Trump said “he wasn’t wearing one of those hats, was he?” This statement and Trump’s lack of respect to the Indian culture gained attention in India about our election. Other than this, India has put less focus on this election by preferring to focus on their own problems at home. This contrasts to countries such as Venezuela, who exploit our election as a distraction to the crisis happening in their own country.
How other countries cover our election and their anticipation of who will become the next president of the free world creates a sense of responsibility and leadership from Americans. We have the power to help other countries around the world in choosing someone who would be suitable in foreign relationships and create a good example of our country. Although it seems almost impossible that there is a perfect candidate for this, it is important we participate this Tuesday by voting. The article by CNN showed me that our vote goes beyond just the border of the United States.
