Monday, May 23, 2011

Why the Obama/Queen visits really mattered

Last week we had the Queen, this week Obama. Forget all the economic and tourism boosts. The visits, along with the Leinster victory and Jedward's performance in the Eurovision, did something much better. In a nation that over the past three years has been so negative and gloomy, a nation without hope, a nation obsessed with banks and bondholders, these past few weeks, we had something else to talk about. It took our minds off the negativity and let us enjoy some rare positivity.

Today Obama came to College Green and gave a speech. This visit probably won't yield as many ecomonic benefits as Enda Kenny would tell us but it was the first time in a while we heard a politician speak of hope and we could believe it in.

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