Obama: An International Version of Martin Luther King?

Now, a year after Obama Hussein ascended to the presidency in America, the only superpower in the world today, people around the world are wondering if the world is really still living in the phenomenon of Obama. Or if one year, perhaps even less, was enough to overcome this phenomenon, or for it to simply run its course. They are also wondering if it was all just promises, dreams, electoral aspirations and nothing more. The American people pushed President Obama into the presidency and the White House in order for him to move America in a new direction, contrary to the era of President Bush, Jr. There were many promises and lofty aspirations. There was also great hope to see Obama lead the world to a new level of stability with greater communication among peoples. President Obama had many initiatives that strengthened this optimism. His speech to the Islamic world in Cairo, relying on a policy of negotiation and of not solving the problems of the world by himself, are all signs of change in American politics.

Are the feelings of failure felt by those within and outside of America with regard to Obama’s leadership really because of the modest results of his policies? Or are the challenges facing Obama so big that the efforts and initiatives he has put forth are in need of a longer period of time to come to fruition? Decades-old crises and problems affected by many factors and interventions are in need of someone like Obama, not just in America, but in other countries as well, because it takes two to tango. Obama’s initiatives are in need of someone to respond to and support them; otherwise, Obama himself will become frustrated, and might even abandon his dreams and aspirations.

There are those who think President Obama’s failures are not his alone to bear. The people had their dreams of changing America and along came President Obama, talking about change and assuring everyone that he was the one who would lead this change. It really was a dream, just as the election of a black president was also a dream, inconceivable to many. Don’t all societal and individual changes begin with a dream? Even scientific discoveries are, in truth, a translation of the dreams of their scientists. Weren’t Einstein’s theories and ideas all dreams before he actually discovered his theory of relativity? Was it not Crick, the famous geneticist, who drew the double helix in his dreams and imagination before putting it on paper? No one was able to see this naturally. Dreams and fantasies were the only way to imagine the shape of this vital component that carries our genetic code. Even Einstein said, describing genius and innovation, that they are 99 percent dreams and imagination, and only 1 percent knowledge. Therefore, dreams, particularly those of scientists and intellectuals, not those of the ignorant, fortune-tellers or tyrants, are instrumental in developing humanity. Dreams are what paved the way for the greatest changes in the history of mankind.

At a time when people, the press and the world at large are talking about Obama’s first year as president and reflecting on what was accomplished of his personal and administrative goals, America celebrates the anniversary of the call for civil rights by the preacher Martin Luther King. In light of these two occasions, there is talk throughout the corridors of cultural hubs, local American media and even international media showing the similarities of personality and symbolism between President Obama and Martin Luther King. The American preacher moved the feelings of Americans, especially black Americans, and kindled their sympathies with the dream of civil rights for the black population. There was a famous saying that still can be heard today: I have a dream. That call will be answered come the day all Americans are afforded civil rights, without exception and without discrimination. This call was repeated by the thousands who were present to listen to his famous speech, and the millions who heard it from a distance really considered it to be a dream and an aspiration. However, it was a dream with the energy to rally American society to take a leap of faith, enabling it to do away with racial discrimination. This great dream has made Martin Luther King’s birthday a national holiday. America celebrates his birthday by considering it a day of equality, a day for citizens and a day marking the many advancements of American civil rights.

There was a worldwide echo of the dreams of Martin Luther King, which fueled the dreams and aspirations of a people still suffering from discrimination. Thanks to this dream, many of these people were granted their civil rights through nonviolent and peaceful struggles. It is not usual in America for someone to be celebrated who wasn’t assigned official duties, and to make their birthday an official holiday, aside from Martin Luther King. This is another indication of the greatness of the dreams of this man and the changes these dreams have brought about in American society. Even the rest of the world celebrates this man. He was awarded the Nobel Prize, in recognition of his powerful dream. He was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize. The dramatic end of this man added to the brightness of his dreams. He died while his dreams remained smoldering in the minds and hearts of those interested in the humanity of mankind.

Is there really the possibility that the world sees in the personality of President Obama an international version of Martin Luther King? Getting Obama to the presidency of America was just a dream; however, it was actually achieved. Obama’s speeches during the electoral process inspired dreams that moved the feelings and sympathies of American citizens. The slogan of his electoral campaign was "change" and the average citizen was the champion of this change. Obama, as a person, was an average American citizen. He didn’t have a share of the wealth or notoriety and fame due to an ancient family history. The dream of change, which propelled him to the presidency, resembles King's dream calling for America to change by abandoning racial discrimination. The world has also welcomed the personality of Obama, his reaching the presidency and his dreams of change in America to make the country more open to the rest of the world. President Obama also received the Nobel Prize, like Martin Luther King, not in recognition of his work and achievements, which are still in their beginnings, but in recognition of his dreams of change that fostered an atmosphere of global optimism. The first decade of the new century was a difficult one because America was stressed and firm in its foreign policy. Then along came President Obama, promising change, supportive of diplomacy and communication with the world in order to solve its problems. The world was exhausted and in a state of stress marred by wars and political tension, which was characteristic of the era before the Obama administration. If the dream of Martin Luther King was civil rights for all Americans, then the world saw him in Obama, but with the dream of global civil rights. Will global civil rights for many of the oppressed peoples really be achieved in the hands of Obama? Is his first year in office represented by disappointment for those that are oppressed, or are the dreams of the people still attainable?

There are even those who want to exaggerate the similarities of Obama and Martin Luther King. There are some fortune-tellers who see that the end of Obama will be during this year, as was the end of Martin Luther King, and that it is also to be a dramatic one. However, the people of the world hope that this end is dramatic instead because of the achievement of the change President Obama promised the American people and the people of the world, regardless of their differences and religions.