Do not roll your eyes just yet, even though you might have guessed who I am referring to in the title of this post. Last Tuesday (for the people hiding in their caves) Barack Obama was officially sworn in as the new president of the USA. Except for the larger scale and magnificence of the inauguration, this is not much different than electing a new Prime Minister in Denmark with the (un)necessary ritual at the Royal House with the Queen of Denmark.
But last Tuesday was a bigger deal. Talks about “a historical election”, “first African American president” and the like are indeed important to acknowledge but what matters in the end is the politics that are carried out. And I must say, I am overly impressed by Barack Obama already.
In his first week of presidency, he has made executive orders to close down Guantánamo Bay. His first formal tv interview as president (given today) was for Al-Arabiya, with promising and a clear messages for Muslim world. He has promised to give weekly addresses to the nation where the first one (January 24th) lays out a plan that seems to have good perspectives, especially for the educational system that really seems to need some help.
Now back to the question. Can one man change the world? No, of course not, and while I indeed take part in the whole Obamania right now, I still realize that mountains are not moved in a week and there are several challenges for Obama and the world that do not disappear from one day to the other. But there is definitely a new, fresh wind blowing in the USA, a wind of change, and I am very excited to be here right now, breathing the fresher air.
(This post ends a month of inactivity and marks my re-entry to the blogworld. I will continue posting more, when I feel like it)
3 responses to “Can one man change the world?”
Hi Dave
I think Obama is promising as well. I still wonder how Bush could be elected twice.
Will we see the beginning of social healthcare in the US during Obamas presidency? Isn’t healthcare the Achilles’ heel of the United States?
-Patrick
Hello David,
been waiting for an update :)
Well for the doubters, the shutting down of the Guantanamo prison camp was a decisive move and one that shows that the US will try to once again be what they were: The leaders of the free world. At least that is positive. What Obama understands and the former administration clearly did not, is that you cannot effectively teach democracy and liberty without acting it out yourself.
I do find one thing particularly interesting though and that is the way that Obama is always refered to as “African American”. As far as I understand his father came from Kenya but left when Obama was very young, thereby leaving him to be raised with his white mother and her (white) family, making Obama not more African American than white American. Oh well, he is of course more “African American” than the 43 preceding presidents :)
Lars: Yeah, I think too much emphasis has been put on the fact that Obama is (half) black. I think it will wear off in time though but there is no denial the fact, that his heritage has great symbolic value for African Americans in the US. I agree with your view on democracy as well. Here in the Northwest, people are generally very liberal and I have thus met several people who were not only mad at their leader but embarrassed and ashamed of him. The image of America is definitely going to change — at least on the short term. Obama have good time to screw up many times :-)
Patrick: I cannot really allow myself to speak of the matter as an American representative but what I SEE and EXPERIENCE here is, that the current system is not working out perfectly for the US. More important though, in my opinion, is their educational system which really does not support equal opportunity for all Americans because of the very high expenses associated with education. However, as I see it, this is part of the so called “American Dream”, that you are pretty much left to yourself to make your own way in life. And of course it IS possible to do this but I must admit I like the Scandinavian/European (social liberal) approach to those basic requirements for life, health care and education. To answer your question: Things will get better, I believe, but it will not happen in Obamas presidential period, not even after 8 years. But it WILL get better, I am sure!