Today I watched the inauguration of the first ever black American president, Barack Obama. This monumental event epitomised the journey of black African coming to America as slave and today, as president, thus becomes the most powerful man in the present world. It was a very poignant, sombre and moving event for most American who believe in the American’s Dream, that everything is possible. More so for black American who has steadfastly fought for their civil right. But for this day to happen, the conditions and environment of the American constitution, Rules of Laws, very sound political institutions are all in place. Most importantly, both citizen and politicians respected and observed all the rules of play. All these ingredients are conspicuously lacking throughout the rest of the world.
From an Asian perspective, I can’t help but wonder, will it be possible for a Tibetan to head the Chinese government, or a Chinese Prime Minister in Malaysia or a Tamil heading Sri Lanka. That I am certain, will not be in my lifetime. Asian culture and tradition are far more complex. The major fissure is religion. The lack of respect for each other religion, culture and language and to some extent, even contentiously fought.Definitely, this will take a long time for various race to accept and respect one another. It’s different in America, the black or white have a common language and almost similar in religious belief. If I may be sceptical, I wonder whether an American born Chinese or American born Arab with the same ability as Obama can even get through the presidential primaries. So carry on dreaming, for those who are not black or white.
The last eight years, President Bush has antagonised the entire world. The world has been more polarised, fraught with too much hatred and suffering. The economy has crumbled under its own under-regulated market in the name of free market economy and capitalism. The failure or near failure of almost all major financial institutions had create an economic catastrophe for the rest of the world. Politically, the world has become far more dangerous with terrorism, priracy, refugees resulted from racial and territorial conflict. Global warming and environmental damages are issue that were never managed and addressed by Bush. For eight years, I think Bush has failed American and the rest of the world. So now good riddance to world most useless leader.
Whether I like Obama or not, I can only hope he makes the right decision to save America and thus save the world. Judging from his performance during the campaign, I have hope he will deliver. But time is not on his side. He had to muster all his leadership, wisdom and the political capital to reshape the world. Do something useful, forget the rhetoric and change the world for a more peaceful place. He must stop lecturing the rest of the world on American values or American superiority. Those days are over. He must learn that the rest of the world is different and each country has its own culture, traditions, political system and religious beliefs. And no countries are perfect. America must accept to co-exist with other countries. American should not to impose, engaging in politic of divide and rule, carving out its sphere of influence. American must shoulder the responsibility on environment issues .
Obama has a tough job on his hand. The president has a fat dossier of foreign policy problems, Iraq and Afganistan, Israeli and Palestinian conflict, Iran and North Korea nuclear programme. In west Asia, he has to balance the domestic interests of Pakistan and India. He has to watch the Chinese growing military and economic powers without alienating the cordial relations which has been built up since Clinton’s day.
Of course the most pressing issues are domestic, the high unemployment, home foreclosures, high cost of health care. Of course this can only happen if the financial wreckage can be repair, rebuild and confidence restore and get America out of the recession. It is a very tough call.
I wish him good luck for the benefit of the rest of the world including Singapore
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