THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA

By: WARIS SHERE,

A new era in the history of the United States of America has begun. The son of a white woman and a black man, raised by his grandparents far outside the stream of American power and wealth, has been elected the 44th president of the United States. Americans placed their faith in Barack Obama, turning their backs on a past of slavery and segregation and electing the first African-American to the US presidency. "The stain of slavery and discrimination can never be obliterated, and no single day can mark a nation's progress into some mythical "post-racial" era,", observed the Washington Post. I vividly recall when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered an historical and moving speech - "I Have a Dream". At that time the President - elect Barack
Obama was only 2 years old. "The life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day, black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.", concluded Marin Luther King, Jr. But race is hugely relevant to this moment. "The stain of slavery and discrimination can never be obliterated, and no single day can mark a nation's progress into some mythical "post-racial" era,", observed the Washington Post. The challenges the new president will face both overseas and at home are enormous,and the road ahead is likely to be very different. Leading the country in such a time will require intellect, creativity, honesty and passion for those traits that have made America great. Barack Obama's presidency will be an important moment in the evolution of the country. The United States stands on the threshold of the new era it needs. By making Barack Obama a black American the most powerful man in the world signals a once-in-a-generation change in America. This election has already been an epic for Obama. Men such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Winston Churchil to name a few are hailed as heroic figures of their time. Now is Barack Obama's time who has captured the heart and has become the darling of the new America. He combines a unique array of talents: compelling oratory, a brilliant mind, and a keen political sense. Barack Obama from early chidhood loved thinking about the future. Planning was one of his passions, for his mind always raced ahead. The new president - elect possess the spark and passion to inspire the best - creativity, generosity and a fierce defense of justice and liberty. For Barack Obama, it has been an astonishing journey of historical proportion. From that humble beginning sprang one of the largest political movements since the Civil Rights era, he has fascinated people around the globe. He has brought a touch of the rock star into American politics. From Berlin to Virginia
and finally to his home town of Chicago, he has appeared in front of crowds of over 100,000.

Obama has the vision to restore United States to its place of leadership around the globe and rally the public at a time when the winds are picking up and the clouds keep on darkenining. He has built up an excitement such as no candidate has created since President Kennedy in 1960. Like Kennedy, he combines personal magnetism with a strong appeal. His victory to Presidency has resembled more a social movement than a political campaign. Barack Obama's victory has come at an opportune time and is particularly important because it comes at the end of George Bush's calamitous two terms and amid such economic turmoil. The world has an interest in Barack Obama's victory, since America remains the world's pre-eminent military, political, financial
and cultural power. America's standing in the world has been damaged during the George Bush's presidency. He has inflicted massive direct harm to many parts of the world through his military actions. His ledership and vision for the future has fascinated people around the globe. Barack Obama reminded his audience, remembering Abraham Lincoln. "The future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we might fulfill the pledges in the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of ignorance and inequality of opportunity. The new president will need to inspire the American people." He is expected to heal the country's racial divisions, reverse the trend of rising inequality, improve middle- class living standards, cut almost everybody's taxes, transform the image of the United States abroad, end the losses in Iraq, deal with the mess in Afghanistan and much more besides.", according to London Financial Times. Anti-Americanism has always been a topic world-wide, especially among the intelligentsia. In the Bush era, the American foreign policy plumbed its lowest depths and anti-Americanism became the new global religion. It is important to reflect
on the Present administration foreign policy legacy – one of the most disastrous in the history of the United States. The President’s policies have undermined alliances and damaged U.S credibility around the world. Barack Obama with style, substance, intelligence and superb discipline has produced in living memory the most compelling and a brighter future for the United States of America and the world. Barack Obama has the right temperament to shepherd Americans through a grueling period in its history. The United States economy is entering a major downturn since the 1930's. The mess caused in the financial circle in the U.S. has now blown into a global crisis of confidence. The newly elected president's energy will have to go toward pulling from the financial mess at home and navigate with great precision and skill the geopolitical path overseas, the ongoing wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and the threat from nuclear Iran. Different challenges require different strengths. Barack Obama has demonstrated a calm, thoughtful leadership style that fits this time. In the final analysis Barack Obama understands that international respect and admiration can’t be forced at gunpoint.

About the Writer:
Professor Waris Shere is the author of eight books including "THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE". Professor Shere is a Free-Lance journalist and his main interests are Emerging International Order, Security and the Prospects for East-West relations