Suzanne’s Blog

We’ve come to the end of watching a remarkable journey … and what an unexpected one it has been.

Watching Obama’s victory speech gave me the goosebumps… he is that good. I’m not American, but I was pumped with hope for America and what good sea change this means for the rest of the world. I endorse his stance on climate change, his take on how the rich should pay and contribute more and am convinced he has a better and real sense of the bigger world around him. John McCain is an admirable man but he appeared to lose focus time to time during this election.

We’re now going to see lots of post-election analysis report from various media and different people giving different opinions on the election and what went wrong/right. Well I thought I’d write my two cents worth about how amazing this race has turned out to be… not that I think it’s important for you to know but simply because it has been such a breath-stopping, exciting follow through for me as well that I feel I need to now let it all out and come to a conclusion of my own… so that I can just wrap it up,  put it aside and get ready for a new chapter… just like how Barack Obama did in his victory speech… except I don’t think I could do it as beautifully as he put it

You know, I vividly remember when I was first introduced to the name ‘Barack Obama’. It was just 4 years ago, when I was getting ready for the Democratic National Convention 2004 and whispers reached my ears to look out for a young promising man who will be making a speech that night to endorse John Kerry.  “Barack who?”…

Well, he’s turned out to be more than just promising. Look at the story now and it’s an impressive and incredible one. And having watched him and followed him since has made me a fan of Obama. It is his ability to electrify young voters, get them interested and more aware of what’s happening in the world around them that really makes him exceptional. He drew millions of new voters and the young has never been so active in politics as in this race we’ve seen.

He must know what an inspiration he is to all young black men especially…
And that his story, perseverence and success is giving other people of colour more confidence in their everyday life too.
He has sent out a message of hope and planted seeds in tomorrow’s generation to dream for their future and about their future.

And I, coming from a family of teachers, enjoying interacting with young students and just being someone who cares a lot about our younger generation, firmly believe and cannot stress enough how so important it is to dream, not to be afraid to dream and work towards that dream. Well, he certainly is today’s great model for all youth. I am so proud of him for that.

Here comes the hard part.

Barack Obama will soon be embarking on his “actions speak louder than words” mission come January when he has to start delivering on his promises to his country and to the world. 

The world’s high hopes for Obama are probably unrealistic. But hey, having said that… he’s known for breaking records. This campaign, thanks to him has been the longest and costliest campaign in US history. Barack also made history by breaking the ultimate racial barrier to become the first African American to claim the country’s highest office.

After sweet victory, the hard work begins now.

Though his honeymoon period in office is likely to last longer than previous presidents, bearing in mind the massive mess he inherits from George W. Bush… I do hope to see some form of refreshing change in the first 100 days in office.

That would mark a great start to indeed a new dawn as he calls it in his victory speech.