Last Tuesday, November 4, was a great day in the contemporary history of the United States, when the American people chose Democrat Barack Obama as their new president in a milestone election, making him the first African-American president of the United States of America. Obama succeeds Republican President George W. Bush, whose term ends on January 20, 2009.
The Americans have welcomed this change after having been under immense stress and strife during the eight-year, two-term presidency of George Bush, who had harnessed a chunk of his countrys material and human resources as well as troops to wage wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Darfur. Throughout his two presidential terms, Bush steered the policy of the White House and the Republican Party towards achieving this war-tainted goal, leading to enormous material and human losses for his country. His tragic misadventures seem to have come full circle just as he is preparing to leave the White House, resulting in one of the worst financial crises ever, his proverbial last straw, so to speak, that has also sent most of the world economies into a tailspin.
Soon after the news of Obamas victory over his Republican rival John McCain broke out, every American city, town and village erupted in unprecedented instant celebrations, continuing late into the night. Their boundless effervescence echoed far afield as peace-loving people across the world went into raptures and held their own respective celebrations. This kind of explosion of joy and celebrations was not without reason as everybody knew that Obamas victory was not going to be easy; in fact, it would not have been possible without the determination of the Democratic Party and the solid support it had extended to him during the election campaigns right up to his victory.
Regardless of what was said about his origin, Obama is an American through and through and was nominated for presidency by his party solely on the strength of his multifaceted personality, powerful oratory, depth of his humility and the extent of his knowledge of his countrys domestic and foreign policies.
In his first speech as president-elect of the United States, before tens of thousands of his supporters at Grand Park in Chicago, Obama spoke about the enormous difficulties and problems that await him at the White House. He however exuded hope and confidence when he told them that, We needed time but what we have done today and during the elections has brought change to the United States.
By winning the elections, Obama has made the US citizens proud. Now I believe the American citizens can travel abroad without fear or shame, particularly if Obama as president fulfils his promises by withdrawing US troops from Iraq and restoring peace at places where the Bush administration started conflicts, and also if he puts an end to the hateful imperial designs that had been the hallmark of his predecessor.
On the economic front, Obamas triumph has already given a boost to the dollar as it has since staged an impressive rally vis-à-vis other currencies. This recovery process is expected to continue as Obama is likely to adopt policies that help revive the seized up US economy.
In the post-election scenario, the world has already started seeing the US differently as aptly echoed by Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, one of the strident opponents of President Bush and his administration. President Chavez has billed the triumph of Obama as a glimmer of light on the horizon and hoped that Obama will increase the power of this light. Cuban leader Fidel Castro has said that a John McCain victory would have meant the beginning of another saga of wars.
The Middle East is looking forward to witnessing fair US policies in the region. The strife-torn region hopes the Obama administration will effect a change in the current policies which are pretty much completely in favour of Israel and heavily biased against the Arabs.
Its time the Palestinian cause, the core of the conflict in the Middle East region, was addressed and resolved in a just and peaceful manner.
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