Daily Lesson from Life 05 November 2008

"Wed, Nov 05, 2008 AFP Obama elected as president

WASHINGTON - Americans elected Democrat Barack Obama as their first black president Tuesday, in a transformational election which will reshape US politics and reposition the United States on the world stage.

Obama, 47, will be inaugurated the 44th US president on January 20, 2009, and inherit an economy mired in the worst financial crisis since the 1930s, two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and a nuclear showdown with Iran.
Television networks projected his victory over Republican John McCain after Senator Obama solidified traditional Democratic states and cut deep into the Republican territory which his rival needed to control to win the White House.

Obama's historic inauguration will complete a stunning ascent to the pinnacle of US and global politics from national obscurity just four years ago and close an eight year era of turbulence under President George W. Bush.


He will take office with Democrats holding a monopoly in power in Washington, after an epochal election which sparked a rare generational and political realignment and finally snuffed out an era of Republican control.

Obama is promising to renew bruised ties with US allies, and to engage some of the most fierce US foes like Iran and North Korea. He has vowed to pass tackle climate change and provide health care to all Americans. His presidency also marks a stunning cultural shift, with Obama, the son of Kenyan father and white mother from Kansas, the first African American president of a nation still riven by racial divides.

When he launched his campaign on a chilly day in Illinois in February 2007, Obama forged a mantra of change which powered him throughout the longest, most costly US presidential campaign in history. With a stunning grassroots political movement, powered by massive multi-million dollar fundraising, Obama first beat Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic Party's then preeminent political machine."

Could I have chosen another news item to comment on? Probably yes but this is important! So, here I go...

Congratulation to Senator Obama, the young skinny man with a funny name as he referred to himself, for being elected the 44th President of USA. It is a historical event in the young nationhood of USA.

He is charismatic for sure. He is eloquent for sure. He is acceptable by the younger voters of USA of all races for sure. He is also facing the biggest challenge of his young life for sure as he is inheriting a nation whose reputation in the world has taken a severe battling, some may argue to the contrary, with the obsession of fighting 'terrorism', maintaining 'world peace' in other nations, practising convenient 'free capitalistic practices' to 'save' their greedy financial institutions' executives with what seems like very 'socialist' intervention tactics of nationalizing these 'wounded' financial institutions, etc...

I believe he is sincere when he said he wants to bring change, positive changes, to USA and the world.

I have a few advices to him:

1. stay faithful to your initial idealism. Do not get lost as you taste the power of being the so-called the most powerful man on earth! Also remind yourself the hope that those who voted for you to bring REAL Change and not disappoint them and yourself!;

2. make a list of MUST DO and stick to it like:
a. every morning look into the mirror and say: I am only a normal human being. I want to stay truthful to my idealism;

b. if I have to see audience seekers, I will make sure it is: 20% the rich and famous, 50% the middle-class, and 30% the under-privilege. And keep a record and publish it on your Whitehouse website!! This you keep you honest and in touch with the cross section of people under your care!;

c. tell ALL you family and friends that YOU will be a bit difficult with anyone asking for 'any favours' and that if they love you they will go through other proper processes instead of asking you to do any favours!;

d. make the people who will be your working partners to sign a pledge that they are working for the idealism and NOT for you or for themselves but for the PEOPLE of USA.

e. any others...?

3. remind the American people that the CHANGE is about changing their HABITS!! Bad habits in fact!
e.g. over-eating!!
e.g. spending on credit (spending on future earning!)
e.g. not saving for rainy days!!
e.g. stop thinking that ONLY the American way is the RIGHT WAY!

I wish the President-elect all the successes in the world for the sake of world peace and prosperity! And for not letting himself down too!!