This is an amazing story, the one of Matt Harding and his "Where the hell is Matt?" project and you have a heart of stone if you not at least smile after watching this video. It's was through Metafilter, that bastion of internet snobbery, where I got to read about Matt just days ago. You can see by the comments that many a mefite's heart melted and eyes watered thanks to this wonderful guy.

Matt tells us that 3 years ago he decided to quit his job and travel around Asia until his money ran out. It was during the course of his first odyssey that the silly dance "happened" and was recorded. This was 2005, a time when, believe it or not, YouTube was hardly in the beta stage of testing. Yet even without YouTube the video went viral, catching the attention of the marketing team of Stride Gum, a candy company that has paid Matt since 2006 to travel around the world and make his videos.

The United States is at a time in history when as a country our international reputation is in tatters. Uncontested in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, the Bush administration has done irreparable damage on our reputation, not just with the mess of the Iraq war but by the administration's twisted justifications in the use of torture even going so far as refusing to categorize waterboarding and other interrogation techniques for what they are.

It's because of all the bad about this country that Matt represents the bit of Hope for its Good.

Look at the pure joy of the children dancing with him.

Feel the rush of energy of those who are running to join him in dance.

There's no words --at least not ones I can understand. Just music, and dance and joy at the thought that for 14 months, through 42 countries, and with a cast of thousands Matt Harding defied the image of "the ugly American".

Life seems brighter and lighter thanks to, Matt.

My hat's off to such a wonderful man.