Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

The 20th of January 2009. A key moment in American history. The inauguration of the first black president. Barack Obama wins the hearts of the people with ‘Change’ and ‘Yes, we can’. But can Obama really bring change? Can Obama introduce health insurance in the U.S.? Can he keep Wall Street’s gluttonous bankers in check? Can he change the way the American people think about crime and punishment? Or are Americans too set in their ways?

In his book, ‘Blijven Proberen Obama! Amerika tussen droom en daad’ (Keep Trying Obama! Making the dream happen), U.S. expert Björn Soenens talks about everything that makes the American people so unique, attractive, repulsive and at times crazy with amazement and curiosity. The book therefore offers a contemporary insight into a fascinating society that continues to influence our European lifestyle.

This book presentation will be accompanied by a debate with Howard Gutman (U.S. ambassador to Belgium), Caroline Gennez (sp.a), Bart de Wever (NV-A), Alexander De Croo (Open Vld), Steven Vanackere (CD&V), Björn Soenens (VRT) and moderator Siegfried Bracke (VRT).