It's been more than a day after the euphoria in Chicago had ended. Scenes of jubilation splashed all over TV screens that evening. A civil rights activist in the sixties was caught on camera shedding tears as the new leader spoke. In an interview a day later on CNN, he explained that he was crying for all the black people who gave up their lives for this day to become a reality. "It was the fulfillment of a preacher's dream," he said "Who would have thought America will have its first black president in our lifetime."
Around the world, people of all color celebrated. Kenya declared a national holiday while in Obama, Japan people drank sake and ate sushi to celebrate a town's namesake ascend to the world's most powerful presidency. Not even America's foes dared spoil Obama's victory knowing that the entire planet is watching the historic event. Change has arrived in the US and its ripples of hope are now leaving the warm waters of that nation as it head towards unfamiliar shores around the planet.
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Like millions who listened to Obama's victory speech yesterday, my eyes welled up with tears as he spoke of optimism in a world beset by troubles. He was like a lone candle whose flames shone brightly amidst the pitch black darkness. His rousing and assuring words were like fire that burned inside men's hearts. It moves those who listened to believe that dreams are still possible to achieve.
"To all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright," the new president's voice boomed. "Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."
And the world nodded in unison.
The tasks that lie ahead is daunting. A day after his victory speech in the windy city of Chicago, financial experts announced that the world is now in recession. Russia had its saber-rattling welcome to the new US leader after President Medvedev, in a state of the nation address to Russia, announced a missile re-deployment close to Poland. There is an ongoing squabble for energy resources and two wars to conclude. The threat of Global Warming puts the planet in peril and as long as millions of Americans don't have jobs, economic activity around the world will continue to decline.
Obama is now the president of the United States and the world is now coming to terms with the reality.
He has four years to fulfill the dreams of billions. It is my hope that he will not put his promises down.
---
When I arrive home tonight, things will be very different. CNN will not report about the developments in the US elections like it used to do several days ago. The thrill and excitement is over. Instead, it will return to regular programming reporting mundane and often trivial events happening across the world. Wars and crises will once again dominate the headlines, punctured occasionally by speeches of Obama. Sarah Palin will return to being the obscure and unknown governor of Alaska, while John McCain will spend the rest of his life being the maverick senator from Arizona.
Bush will be shunned forever in books and in the media.
And things will return back to being normal.
As for me, I will drop my political inclinations to focus my attention on pressing matters at home. The issue of recession is still unresolved, while the continuous push towards the heart of my citadel is preventing potential partners from bailing me out.
Looking back, it remains a great mystery why I took with great passion the elections in the US like my life depended on it.
History would be a good excuse,
Change is another.
But as I reflected deeper on the meaning of change, it rings a tune so melodic, it may actually move my life directly.
The ripples of change has left the shores of US yesterday after Obama was elected President. It travels from shore to shore, bringing goodwill and hope to those who embrace it.
They say change is contagious.
Who knows, after being awashed with a renewed sense of purpose; after being inspired by a young black senator from Illinois who moved mountains and cities on the other side of the globe to become his nation's new leader.
That change, which he uttered over and over from town to city; That change, which he sang in speeches with so much eloquence it moved people to tears; That change, which feeds people's desires to open their arms and embrace their dreams.
That change will eventually come to me.
Around the world, people of all color celebrated. Kenya declared a national holiday while in Obama, Japan people drank sake and ate sushi to celebrate a town's namesake ascend to the world's most powerful presidency. Not even America's foes dared spoil Obama's victory knowing that the entire planet is watching the historic event. Change has arrived in the US and its ripples of hope are now leaving the warm waters of that nation as it head towards unfamiliar shores around the planet.
---
Like millions who listened to Obama's victory speech yesterday, my eyes welled up with tears as he spoke of optimism in a world beset by troubles. He was like a lone candle whose flames shone brightly amidst the pitch black darkness. His rousing and assuring words were like fire that burned inside men's hearts. It moves those who listened to believe that dreams are still possible to achieve.
"To all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright," the new president's voice boomed. "Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."And the world nodded in unison.
The tasks that lie ahead is daunting. A day after his victory speech in the windy city of Chicago, financial experts announced that the world is now in recession. Russia had its saber-rattling welcome to the new US leader after President Medvedev, in a state of the nation address to Russia, announced a missile re-deployment close to Poland. There is an ongoing squabble for energy resources and two wars to conclude. The threat of Global Warming puts the planet in peril and as long as millions of Americans don't have jobs, economic activity around the world will continue to decline.
Obama is now the president of the United States and the world is now coming to terms with the reality.
He has four years to fulfill the dreams of billions. It is my hope that he will not put his promises down.
---
When I arrive home tonight, things will be very different. CNN will not report about the developments in the US elections like it used to do several days ago. The thrill and excitement is over. Instead, it will return to regular programming reporting mundane and often trivial events happening across the world. Wars and crises will once again dominate the headlines, punctured occasionally by speeches of Obama. Sarah Palin will return to being the obscure and unknown governor of Alaska, while John McCain will spend the rest of his life being the maverick senator from Arizona.
Bush will be shunned forever in books and in the media.
And things will return back to being normal.
As for me, I will drop my political inclinations to focus my attention on pressing matters at home. The issue of recession is still unresolved, while the continuous push towards the heart of my citadel is preventing potential partners from bailing me out.
Looking back, it remains a great mystery why I took with great passion the elections in the US like my life depended on it.
History would be a good excuse,
Change is another.
But as I reflected deeper on the meaning of change, it rings a tune so melodic, it may actually move my life directly.
The ripples of change has left the shores of US yesterday after Obama was elected President. It travels from shore to shore, bringing goodwill and hope to those who embrace it.
They say change is contagious.
Who knows, after being awashed with a renewed sense of purpose; after being inspired by a young black senator from Illinois who moved mountains and cities on the other side of the globe to become his nation's new leader.
That change, which he uttered over and over from town to city; That change, which he sang in speeches with so much eloquence it moved people to tears; That change, which feeds people's desires to open their arms and embrace their dreams.
That change will eventually come to me.
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