Nov 06 2008
It’s a proud moment for a proud nation…
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.
I like Obama because he’s a dreamer. The kind of “dreaming practically” dreamer (vs. the “practically dreaming” type).
He won because he made changing the future of his country his own personal strife. It’s easy to tell when he speaks, there is a gravity in his eyes, an anger about things are going in the wrong direction because of mis-leadership, and a sense of urgency to right them. Even when he rebutts his opponents he conveys only his frustration and disappointment at how falsity is continously propagated, and not ridicule them. All you can ever see in all the other candidates’ eyes is ego and power-hunger.
John McCain, Hillary Clinton et al - they want the office because they think they deserve it because they are the strongest. Obama wants the office not because he necessarily thinks he is the strongest, but he knows he believes most wholeheartedly that only with the highest office can he effect the change that is needed to help his people.
Therefore he portrayed the reluctant hero image forcefully. He said his biggest sacrifice if he won presidency would be little time left with his family. He warded off reporters when he took time off to walk his daughter to a Halloween party. He paused campaigning to have one day to visit his dying Grandmother. He is not seeking popularity like politicians pictured holding babies, he did those things because he believes they are the right thing to do. And he knows all these things that are closest to his heart will be soon sidelined, and yet he stood out to run for the office - the often thankless job of “the most powerful man on the planet”.
Therein lies his Passion. Passion can only be internalised in a person when he truly believes in his cause. Passion internalised will manifest subconsciously into how we look, speak, act and react to things around us. Passion is the words written on the sandwich board we wear around our necks every day - but what’s written on it we cannot adulterate and is for the whole world to see and scrutinise. Passion is the most infectious and magnetic thing in this world.
His supporters were drawn to him because they could relate and draw parallels to his struggles in their own lives. The struggle to stay true to one’s ideals, never to lose faith in the cornerstone values and beliefs of one’s life, and in the beauty of their national identity and humanity.
Watching his victory address I felt renewed respect for the American ideals which in the past was the reason for their rise as a nation, despite being one made up of immigrants. A President who was once a drug user, with a “minority” racial identity, at a young age (in politics) - this kind of thing can only happen in America. And the only way they could lead the world is by bringing out this quality again - of being brave idealists and progressive thinkers. And only then will the other nations stand firm with them, because these values are universal and what is necessary to fuel true progress of mankind.
And therefore “change is the genius of America”. There can be no change when one dare not even dream or think that tomorrow can be made better. With that defiance, he melts away the cynic in all of us, the fear of believing, and believing again despite being let down or things falling short.
What message can be more powerful than that?
hi i think you have great insights on issues (: i also look forward to PTM your smile brightens up my day!
Well, THE dream is over. Now, the REAL stuff wl come in rapid fire & hopefully he & his team wl be able to take each issue one at a time & solve it!.
By being the 1st coloured or African American elected President of the USA, he had perhaps, lived the ‘dream’ of many a great personalities. MLK & Malcolm must be havin a long overdue happy hour somewhere in the heavens!.
To be honest, I had felt the contest was over once he was up against McCain & Palin. They were simply not in the same league!.
Hopefully, the US & the world wl get to move ahead foward come Jan 2009!.
I also do support Obama. I think he will make a great president for US. I’m only a kid but I know that the votes will change the world. I’m really hopping to see a change in America and the world. I really do think that as Obama as the president of the US there will be a change.
now let’s see what he can do… but from what i’ve heard so far… many people thinks he will have the same fate as JFK…
thank God common sense won over this time round.. i think people generally want their dollar back in their pockets.. after all they have been giving so much to Bush and friends.. when in actual fact, it should be the other way around..
i had a nagging feeling that if the older gentleman had won the elections, we would see iran or north korea being given a whip lashing.. ala afghan-iraqi-style.. whichever the preference..
and that’s probably gonna increase their deficit amongst other things like heightened xenophobia, racial disharmony, etc..
so now that the party hats are thrown back into the storeroom.. and the champagne glasses in the sink.. i wonder if mr. O’s got any gifts behind his back.. waiting to surprise the world.. but it’s definitely gonna be a long harsh winter as more bad news comes out of the US.. and as is evident now, most of asia is catching the sniffles..