Millions of people from all around US and foreign countries were willingly having their spiritual journeys to attend the Election Night and Obama’s Inauguration
A year ago, when a giant monitor announced the victory of Obama, thousands of people cried for joy. You could not even your own voice. For the first time we saw so many people cried for joy together. Old, young, black, white, men and women were all relieved that Obama is the 44th President now.Temperature in Chicago, US that day was only 11 degree Celsius and was predicted to be even lower in the following days. This inconvenience weather didn’t become obstacle for thousands of people from foreign countries to attend the Election Night in Grant Park. Obama’s Victory was a very monumental moment and all people wanted to celebrate it. Further, un-purposely, John McCain called Obama as “The One”.
Why millions of people from all around US and foreign countries were willingly having their spiritual journeys to attend the Election Night and Obama’s Inauguration? Why they were willingly spending time, effort and money to be the witness of this monumental moment?
First. Obama is not an ordinary politician. He has been starting his career from early 20s with a determination and dedication spirit above politic itself. He started his political retail from the lowest level by introducing himself in the streets of Chicago by distributing simple pamphlets. He took care of teenagers with drug problems, minority people and gaining demos. He is not John F Kennedy or George W Bush who were luckily born from “royal” politic families who had been prepared to give service to the government since their early age.
Secondly, He is able to have the political dedication because of his moral background, ideological belief, formal education and sufficient organizational experiences. During his political journey, he never forgets his dedication intention and supported by moral and determined political belief, he is soon able to build his own charisma.
Third, as a minority, he is the symbolization of American Dream. He is elected as the first black President of US, not because the majority of US people thought that his time has come, but because of his achievement as a fully dedicated politician.
That’s why he is called as The One. The International situation of 21st century indeed needs the figure of Obama. As once said by the former diplomat, Makarim Wibisono, the world after “cold war” will enter the era of pax universalist. Every country in the world is struggling for the Universalism.
Without any further discussion, the universalism fought by Obama is of course a balance. It is not easy for the President of US to give open arms to the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, to open a dialogue with Iran even though diplomatic relation is not yet established or to give visit to China.
Recenlt, Obama was awarded The Peace Nobel. There was argument that Obama was not yet deserved to be awarded the Peace Nobel as he is not yet strongly proving himself for the world peace. However, humbly, Obama himself said that he is not yet deserved to receive this honorable award.
Obama gives a more human of US face. It is not easy to fix US image that is wreck during President George W Bush administration. Now, Obama is the President of US and many people believe that he can sort problems out from health insurance issue to Afghanistan issue.
One year after Obama inauguration, he is still the world’s hope. Unfortunately he postpones his visit to Indonesia this November. He will attend APEC Conference in Singapore and then visit South Korea, China and Japan. He seems to miss kimchi, sushi much more, rather than fried rice
.