AT the beginning of the political process for the election of the new president of the United States of America, I had my doubts about the likelihood of the election of Barack Obama as president of the US.
This was due to intrinsic reasons that I, and others like me, lived through during my years of postgraduate study in America. At that time there were social facts that were considered the norm, and no one could have disregarded them. Truly it was a dream then to think of an African-American as a president.
So when Obama was elected president of the United States of America, I was in a state of bewilderment for several days. I realized that my memory of America — and wrongfully so — was of the past ... A change has really occurred ... A deep fundamental change has occurred in the political and social thought of America with the election of Obama as the president of the United States.
Here I must recollect what the president-elect said in his victory speech, that America is changing and a change like this could only happen in America. The strength of democracy and the true will for change are what led to this event.
We must note here the demographics of the American voters: Of the registered voters, 36 percent are Democrats, 33 percent are Republicans and 29 percent are independent (with a 2 percent variable).
It is also important to note that 18 percent of the voters were between the ages of 18-24 and 68 percent of those youthful voters voted for Obama.
Of those who voted for Obama, 60 percent were Caucasian and 40 percent African, Hispanic and other minorities. So what occurred in the election of Obama is a real change of the total social fabric of America.
The last eight years have led to a real will for change, a desire to bring back to America its leadership role in the world. A leadership role based on justice and equality embedded in principles and ethics.
It seems that by choosing Obama, the Americans have shown the desire to get away from the “John Wayne” mentality and return to the rational dialogue based on common interests, good relations with neighboring countries and respect for the global community.
If one is to enumerate President-elect Obama’s priorities for the next four years, one can attempt to argue they will be as follows:
1 - The economy is evidently the first priority, as he expressed this himself. To save America from its financial depression is of paramount importance. The choices he makes of knowledgeable and experienced bipartisan members will enable him to revive the American economy. This will not happen in a short time, it may take more than three years.
2 - It is known traditionally and historically that the Democratic Party has great interest in the individual’s rights of freedom and privacy. President-elect Obama may restore the constitutional rights of American citizens, so they can regain what they missed under the pretence of national security. I envision there will be more fair and just implementation of immigration laws (for citizenship, residency, work) that brings back America’s ideal concept — of its forefathers — of a unique nation in its respect for civil rights in its broad sense.
3 - As for the ill-famed Guantanamo Bay, it will be one of his priorities to end this dark era in the American legal history. In the same geographic frame of interest, the president-elect might start resuming relations with Cuba, ending a long time of sanctions on a neighboring country, in a world undergoing real change.
4 - As for America’s presence in Iraq, it will be a priority to withdraw troops ... but not a total withdrawal of forces. This situation will result in an American foothold in Iraq. In this vein, America has to listen to its friends in the region to avoid what happened previously.
5 - As for Afghanistan, one can assume there will be great emphasis and focus, from the president-elect, to cause a change that will be felt by the American voter and even the whole world to restore to America its place in the world. This will lead to increased forces and here again the American administration has to consult and listen to its friends.
6 - In the case of the Middle Eastern Palestinian issue, it seems it will be of low-ranking interest, for many political considerations relating to the Palestinian internal struggle and division ... and the financial situation at the time being...
Finally the reader may recollect the words of the great civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King, 45 years ago, when he said he had a dream ... Well ... the dream has come true.
