Stuff and Nonsense

I feel buoyed this morning by the news that Obama is to become president. Strange. I’m not sure why I am so interested. Perhaps it’s just age, perhaps parenthood but I do detect within myself a modest amount of anticipation – eagerness even – about what this man may achieve.

Some of the excitement is without doubt because I feel that the first African-American president heralds a change in attitude of a nation and because of the domination of that nation, to a degree, the world at large. I’ve always believed that he should win but I admit I was of the extremely cynical view that the peoples of the United States would never elect an African American president. I’ve rarely been so pleased to have been proved wrong. I recognise that this is one of those genuinely historical moments. It’s akin to watching the Berlin Wall falling (literally, falling), the release of Nelson Mandela or the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. Though the first female prime minister of the UK seems rather tame by comparison to the others, it was a change that changed Britain and the world so deserves a mention. Obama as president feels bigger though. It feels bigger than all of these.

As a parent it’s no overstatement to say that I actually feel as though the world just became a safer place for my children. I’m a UK citizen. My family and I enjoy peace and security that lots of people can only dream of and yet still I feel the world just got safer. Very strange that the appointment of one man to office (I know, he’s not there yet but you know what I mean) can have such an effect on one who is frankly, usually dismissive of world affairs and politicians generally. I think (I hope I get this right)  it was Winston Churchill who said “Any person who seeks public office is eminently unsuitable for the job.” I’ve always liked that and to a large degree I believe it but today I believe it a little less.

With an early start this morning I managed to hear the last few minutes of Obama’s speech and very impressive it was too. Passionate, yes. But measured, practical, restrained and even to a non-US citizen, uplifting. One can’t help but feel that this man realises the challenges the USA faces.

As a final, possibly trite, observation I must say that whenever I have heard George Bush Jnr. speaking I have felt the sort of discomfort one feels when someone clearly unsuited and incapable is thrust unfortunately into a public speaking role. Listening to Bush over the last two terms has felt like being perpetually stuck at the worst wedding speech you could imagine. The delivery is so bad it has you squirming in your seat, embarrassed by proxy.

Regardless of his policies, Obama’s eloquence alone; the simple fact that he is capable of delivering a speech or answering a question in what feels like a genuine, knowledgeable and passionate tone will be a huge boon to America’s profile worldwide. Like it or not citizens of the United States, the only American most people will ‘know’ is the one who appears on their TV with the sub-title President. This is who they think ALL Americans are. For the past 8 years the world has seen you, unfairly, as bumbling idiots.  That is about to change.