The first president I can remember is Ronald Reagan and although Barack Obama is a very different man it is Reagan that he brings to mind.
I was not an Obama supporter from the outset. I remember his speech at the 2004 convention and I was impressed with it. He was mentioned as a potential Presidential candidate in 2008 but when he declared I thought it was too soon. He had barely 2 years in the Senate before he started his campaign and in the early days I thought that he was getting an easy ride from the media so eager were they to see a viable black candidate.
What changed my mind was his reaction to the Rev Wright affair. Looking back it had the capacity to sink Obama but the way he dealt with it was impressive. He stayed calm and delivered a speech which sought to explain the root of Wright’s anger without giving succor to his extremism. Again when the financial crisis hit he responded with calm. Added to that he built an incredible organisation which fused technology and inspirational leadership to show what is possible when a leader appeals to people’s highest motives.
We are with America
What is most striking is the symbolism. America has elected a son of Africa to its highest office. It shows Africa is perfectly capable of producing able leaders and there is now no longer any excuse for the corruption and bad governance which plagues that continent. Somalia is of course my main concern and I am happy it is no longer possible for the small number of extremists who have plagued the country to point at America as the great enemy. Now when they look at that country they see a man whose father who was born not far from their borders and who does not look much different to them.
Americans should not underestimate the impact Obama’s election will have on the rest of the world. For those of us who have always considered America an amazing nation we now have the best example of why we think that. Too often when the world looks at America they see only the great power rather than the product of the thirteen colonies who took on the world’s greatest military power to win their independence. With Obama’s election America’s friends can now go out into the world with the most powerful argument in its favour. And the power of ideas is ultimately far greater than any weapon or army. From one person outside America I say, we are with you President Obama.
Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
