Barack ObamaOn January 20, 2009, the world witnessed history in its making. For those of us who are too ignorant to acknowledge history in any form other than another boring subject- does it maffer? For those of us who are too young and unaware of the significance Martin Luther King Js “I Have a Dream”- does it mailer? To us here in this place does Barack Obama as the President of the United States of America matter- perhaps it does.

A country which is hailed as the land of opportunities, almost every event finds a place in our General Knowledge. But this occasion is different. There are reasons why Barack Obama — the 44th but the first African American President of the United States of America is being hailed as a figure in history. How is it that a man has been termed as the “change” even before he has contributed through any action? It has primarily been his speeches that have not only won hearts but stimulated minds across the world as well.

At a time when politicians, politics and speeches are disbelieved, someone has led in this field, dared to believe and inspired HOPE.

Amidst the hysteria of his being sworn in as the president, Lisa Lindelberg, 72 year old lady from Sweden said, “I feel sorry for the poor thing- People want him to be a saviour, some kind of messiah, you can’t just become President and change everything...” Actually this is something that Obama has never chosen to deny. From his campaign to his acceptance of presidency, he has stressed on togetherness, participation and responsibility. The ‘WE’ in his speeches has never been replaced by the T and the ‘us’ has refused to segregate the ‘other’.

At a time when the world is by and large grappling with the rise of religious terrorism and its fearful consequences on individuals as well as communities, the 44th President of the United States displayed admirable belief and courage to be sworn in as Barack Hussein Obama. A super power which till few days ago threatened to erase ethnicities across the world, its new president asked its country to recognize- “that our patchwork heritage is a strength not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus- and non believers.” This is precisely why Barack Obama should mailer to us -because in his urge to Americans to remake their country he has urged to acknowledge EQUALITY of men, women and children.

Corinne Wingard, a 66 year old social worker said after hearing Obama- “It wasn’t just what he said - It was the character, intelligence and integrity of the man.” Again, it is only through his speech that I can display why Barack Obama deserves a place in history. On 20th January, 2009, when the world cheered him as the “change”, a humbled Obama said in his speech that, “the world had changed and we must with it.”

This is the politics of humanity and it matters because YES WE CAN!

Amartya Chosh
IX-B