JL Presents..The 44th President: Ladies and Gents, Welcome to a New World Order
JL Shash
November 11, 2008
A journey embarked upon in Springfield, Illnois when President-elect Barack Obama announced his candidacy in 2007 once again ended in Illnois; however, in Chicago, this time, to formally accept the people's choice as the 44th President of the United States. The first African American president ; a journey which saw him take the moral high ground and not condescend to the level of dirty politics played by his Republican rivals.
Then came graphic scenes of rhapsody and jubilations across the globe as if to say the entire world -not just the Democratic Party in America - had just won the historic election. Unlike the events in recent memory when the American star-spangled banner was publicly burned in forgotten regions of the world in protest, alongside effigies of the incumbent president, George Bush being hung, a political 'Messiah' is being celebrated this time. We can't help but wonder to oursleves what a stark difference a single election can make in changing the world's perception of America.
Change' prevailed against the Establishment; moral uprightness conquered politics of fear and bigotry, and more significantly, a breath of fresh air spreading across all frontiers and global political landscapes.
A friend of mine, an ardent Obama fan - notwithstanding, still in a high panick mode - blurted out to me soon after Obama's victory: 'I pray to God he lives up to the weight of expectations placed upon his shoulders by delivering on his campaign promises!' In answer to which I reminded him- the same way I cautioned many other commentators- that no 'Messiah' can undo the 8years of damage in Washington in a space of 8weeks. No doubt, it's okay for all obama supporters -including my humble self - to raise our hopes to the solar system, however, with all due respect to pragmatism, those feet still need to be firmly rooted to the ground.
Which reminds me of the comments Obama himself made to the world press in front of No.10 Downing Street, on his last visit to Britain during his much publicised European tour:'You're always more popular before you're actually in charge of things," he stated somewhat cautiously, "Once you're responsible, you're going to make some people unhappy'; A reference to the unpopular polls rating suffered by Gordon Brown, the British Prime Minister, at the time when their were calls for his head, even within his own Labour Party. This, in itself goes to show that the current US President - elect is under no illusions that for every new leader, there is always a 'honeymoon spell'; and soon after the party is over, lights dimmed out, champagne glasses put away and the final bits of confetti swept away, reality dawns.
At this point in time however, let's savour every minute of the dawn of a new era by not only joining millions of other peace-loving, democracy -oriented citizens of the world in wishing the new President-elect, Barack Obama, and First Lady -In- Waiting, Michelle obama, a peaceful transition into the White House, but also a successful first term in office.
Then came graphic scenes of rhapsody and jubilations across the globe as if to say the entire world -not just the Democratic Party in America - had just won the historic election. Unlike the events in recent memory when the American star-spangled banner was publicly burned in forgotten regions of the world in protest, alongside effigies of the incumbent president, George Bush being hung, a political 'Messiah' is being celebrated this time. We can't help but wonder to oursleves what a stark difference a single election can make in changing the world's perception of America.
Change' prevailed against the Establishment; moral uprightness conquered politics of fear and bigotry, and more significantly, a breath of fresh air spreading across all frontiers and global political landscapes.
A friend of mine, an ardent Obama fan - notwithstanding, still in a high panick mode - blurted out to me soon after Obama's victory: 'I pray to God he lives up to the weight of expectations placed upon his shoulders by delivering on his campaign promises!' In answer to which I reminded him- the same way I cautioned many other commentators- that no 'Messiah' can undo the 8years of damage in Washington in a space of 8weeks. No doubt, it's okay for all obama supporters -including my humble self - to raise our hopes to the solar system, however, with all due respect to pragmatism, those feet still need to be firmly rooted to the ground.
Which reminds me of the comments Obama himself made to the world press in front of No.10 Downing Street, on his last visit to Britain during his much publicised European tour:'You're always more popular before you're actually in charge of things," he stated somewhat cautiously, "Once you're responsible, you're going to make some people unhappy'; A reference to the unpopular polls rating suffered by Gordon Brown, the British Prime Minister, at the time when their were calls for his head, even within his own Labour Party. This, in itself goes to show that the current US President - elect is under no illusions that for every new leader, there is always a 'honeymoon spell'; and soon after the party is over, lights dimmed out, champagne glasses put away and the final bits of confetti swept away, reality dawns.
At this point in time however, let's savour every minute of the dawn of a new era by not only joining millions of other peace-loving, democracy -oriented citizens of the world in wishing the new President-elect, Barack Obama, and First Lady -In- Waiting, Michelle obama, a peaceful transition into the White House, but also a successful first term in office.