I count myself lucky to be living through this no-doubt important day in history.
I am neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States. I cannot vote in this election and I am unlikely to influence any ballots. I am however personally invested in the outcome of this day and its importance will factor heavily in the direction of the world in the coming years.
By all accounts, it would appear that Barack Obama is likely to be elected as the President of the United States. He possesses a unique character that will allow him to move a people, to affect change, and to restore the place of the United States as the most respected nation in the world.
Over the last decade, I have watched as the US government has destroyed the credibility that its fathers and grandfathers worked for decades to build. As a child I saw the United States as a benevolent superpower, one with a history of great deeds and global impact. Internationally, their influence has won great wars and come to the rescue of millions of unfortunate souls. Domestically, generations have worked to right the wrongs of slavery and to espouse a society that aspires to freedom, righteousness and justice. The United States of my childhood was one that was not perfect, but was revered.
Juxtapose that against the United States as the world perceives it today: one that is internally divided along lines of race, politics, and place of birth; one that is a bully on the world stage; one whose leaders are at best incompetent and at worst corrupt. Whether these are merely perceptions or reality, what the world needs now is a leader that can right the course of this most powerful nation on earth – to unite its people and restore its world image. I honestly believe that Barack Obama has “it”. I can’t put my finger directly on what “it” is but his optimistic vision, his ability to seeming speak directly to an individual while addressing millions, his willingness to openly discuss taboo issues and rally everyone to help solve them… this “it” can change history.
This is what has gotten me so excited about today’s election. I love the United States and the many friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who make up that nation. The people of the United States have an opportunity today to choose a leader who will right their course. They can elect a government that once again represents the truly great people that they are. They can rally with one voice and choose to restore their place in the world. That is the power that Barack Obama can bring to the United States and to the world. This is what makes him historic. I’m lucky to be alive to be a witness.
Goodness, Peter, you are just not that old. The US of your childhood was not the benevolent respected nation your memory tells you it was, just ask Panama, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Cambodia, Guam, Indonesia, and just about all of Africa and much of Asia. Look at the World Bank, the IMF, and the WTO … these aren’t benevolent organizations, they are powerful and ugly tools of the US Government and international bankers and they’ve been used to do bad things by virtually every US government since their inception.
The arrogance of the last 20 years of US government seems to know no bounds, but these governments did not invent the problems of today and, as much as I wish this weren’t the truth, Barrack Obama isn’t going to make any difference either. He is a war monger, he supports the theft (oops, I mean bailout) of billions, he is a Bilderberg; slick for sure but he has a long way to go before I’ll call him something other than the status quo. He is not McCain, that seems to be the best thing I can say about him.
BUT I do wish, like you, for something different … I hope you are right and I am wrong about this man and his intentions and actions. He certainly does have the gift of gab, the ability to change — I’m just not convinced he has the intention to do so.