Vibez~

The weight of the world – President Obama January 21, 2009

As Barack Obama finished his inaugural speech as President of the US of A, he carries now with him, not only the weight of expectations of a nation, but of the entire world who voted for him in spirit.

Like Rajdeep Sardesai rightly commented on TV, “Barack Obama won the elections and became President of the World”.

The whole International community…developed nations, developing nations, third world countries all await with bated breath for the “magic” he is going to create…. This is what I have gathered from all the interviews shown on TV with common people across nations. Maybe they dont still know what it is he is going to do, but its a hope against hope that maybe… just maybe something is going to be done thats going to set right a lot of things if not all.

This is a colossal weight on his shoulders… If all his exotic background was magnified to be a perfect fit for the job as President of a country facing new challenges and burden of fixing old ones, any slip will also be magnified and blown out of proportion. Its like going to watch the movie who everyone said is so great that there is no chance that anyone will not like it. Late watchers of the movie go with such an expectation of greatness that they very often fail to appreciate the movie itself, because the hype  raised the bar so much!  Hope Obama’s oratory skills, charm and charisma hasnt raised the bar so much that the whatever he does passes off as “not enough”.

If ordinary people across the globe expect a lof  ‘magic’,  then what would millions of Iraqis be thinking ? would that be of relief ? anxiety..that once the US army leaves, it would result in a chaotic implosion of Iraq? Confidence.. that now we are equipped to build our nation further ?

What would the Afghans think ?.. Like that of a scared kid caught under a spotlight ? what would the terrorists be thinking ? A new excercise of having to size up the new Commander in Chief ? Of being contended latently that their arch enemy is now lead by somewhat one-of-them ? Atleast in name ? and that he chose to take oath with his Muslim middle name ? and was that a message to the Muslims that no ! America is not your enemy anymore ! I, too have risen from the likes of you to be here..

Lets just hope that people now have an excuse to forget their ego and let go their differences… or maybe forget their ego and accept other’s differences… then maybe the world has a chance…. Obama or No-bama.