China: Obama, can you? · Global Voices
Bob Chen

Obama has been sworn in as the first African American president, with a popular support peaking at its high.  His inauguration summoned as many as two million people, and his address occasionally interrupted by thunder-like claps and acclaims. The rhythmic incanting “O-ba-ma!” oftentimes burst out of the packed and vital throng, people singing and dancing to salute to their new leader with tears in eyes. Though it is in the the depth of winter, swirl pool of crisis, the man has been charged with great hope and authority, thought as the first change people need.
This is astonishing to many Chinese.
It is not that the scene is foreign to us. It is all too familiar. Pomp and ceremony is never absent in the country. People can't help but recall the scene that in 1960s millions of intoxicated crowd parading past Tiananmen Square, with Chairman Mao wavering to them on the platform.  People yelled in chorus “Long live Chairman Mao!”, bearing tears in eyes, because among many, their biggest dream is but to see in person the greatest leader Mao.
Mao with throng
Obama with crowd
Therefore in China today, when faith to the authoritarian is far less fanatic, many of us are so amazed at Americans, puzzled by their “fanaticism”. It is  almost synonymous to personality cult, a tradition largely forgiven, severely criticized, long associated with despotism in China. What happened to the democratic America?
In Tianya, a post with two pages of comments kicks off an interesting discussion of Obama.
yshocker questioned, being confused by the unparalleled heat of America:
我就不明白了，一个总统上任，啥事都没干呢，就搞那么大动静，这是选秀还是干嘛呢，奥巴马说得再好听，那也是嘴皮子功夫了得，到底是怎么样一个人，还是未知呢！
I just don't understand; a new president took the office, having not yet achieved anything, but has already created so profound an impact! Is this just a big show or something else? However sweet his words are, they are just good lip service. What on earth a character is he? It is unknown!
Let-me-say-something (让我也说几句吧), however, proclaims:
看好前景
But AV journalist (AV记者) made laugh of him and those who always expect America as a rescue and an example of China:
奥巴马上台了，有人出自内心的欢呼，有人似乎找到了新的靠山般的欢呼；这种欢呼，每四年都会来一次。但是这么多年来，他们为之欢呼的人物，为他们改变了什么了么？什么都没有！
八滋 pondered on the millions of dollars spent on the ceremony:
我倒是觉得奥巴马这孩子实诚。 上任第一天，就烧了一把大火。 一亿多美元的钱砸下去办派对，该能拉动多少美国人民的内需阿。这真金白银地花出去，可比什么动动嘴皮子的就职演说更能传递信息。[洋人不是常说lip-service is cheap嘛］
建议我国ZF向奥先生学习。多办大办派对呀，音乐会呀。
However, though the image of America, in the 8-year Bush administration, has been very negatively affected by the wars it sowed and its unfavored diplomacy, quite a lot comments on the bulletin board still show faith and hope on the new president regardless of the questions. To be more accurate, it is an assent to the American ideals of democracy and liberty.
The initiator of the thread says:
美国先贤的理想是人类历史迄今为止最为重要、最具历史意义的“思想革命”。
美国建国者的理想之所以可贵，盖因他们宣扬的价值观是符合人性的（没有人喜欢被奴役、被限制自由——贱人除外，呵呵），是要所有人（或套用时髦的“最大多数人”）幸福而非极少数权贵的骄奢淫逸，是对掌权者憎恶至少是不信任因而必须加以限制的，是符合理性人的追求但同时对理性抱有适度怀疑的,，所以，除了宗教的固执和非理性的偏见，全世界的人民都能认同。
These ideals are precious because what they advocate is consistent with humanity (no one wants to be enslaved, or be constrained–except mean people); they are for the happiness of majority rather than for the benefit of a few. They dissent, or at least distrust, the rulers so that restrains have to be imposed; they are in accord with the pursuit of any rational people, but also keeps moderate skepticism of pure rationality. So, unless blinded by bigot and irrationality, the whole world would agree upon the creeds.
accq, in his comment, identifies with Obama's speech, particularly in the part explaining how a country can be powerful:
奥巴马在他的演讲中说，美国的强大不是源于它的坚船利炮，而是源于自由、平等的理念和机会均等的社会体制，这是一切创造力的源泉。可惜很多中国人并没有认识到这一点。