Watching the excitement with which my foreign friends followed the U.S. election, I often found myself naively asking, why do they care so much? They can’t even vote. But the reality is that the precedent-breaking decision of Nov. 4 was anticipated world-wide. The world was watching and waiting to see how America would recast her history.
In a French press, L’Union, a Nov. 10 article asked the hypothetical, “What if the New American President…” The article called Obama’s election a “step toward humanization” implying that America lacked civility and that the new president could lead the country in the right direction.
Similar sentiment was viewed in Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza where, in his Nov. 6 article, Tomasz Lis explained that Obama will “be responsible for reconstructing the prestige and reputation of the United States, ruined by the eight years of the Bush administration.” Also, Morocco’s Al Massae press published a Nov. 5 article titled “Dream Comes True After 45 Years.” In the article, writer Taoufik Bouachrine said, “American society has finally managed to untie a major part of the apartheid complex knot that has been harming its image throughout history.”
Indeed, the image of a black family in America’s White House is step towards unraveling the racism so interlaced with U.S. policies. But it is only a small step. Although the U.S.’s reputation and humanity are a common thread throughout foreign presses, they make up only a small part of the high expectations for the new president. And as Lis warned, “The higher the expectations, the greater the potential danger of disappointment and frustration. Both in America and abroad.”
Obama will face the challenges of leading a nation at war in the midst of the greatest economic crisis in decades. And his success, or failure, is ultimately tied to the symbolism of his election: the image of a great America, land of liberty and hope instead of oppression and injustice. However, we, the people, must remember Obama’s election is only that: a symbol, an emblem, a sign, meant to motivate and inspire us to action.
We shall leave the practical challenges of presidency to the president. However, the challenges of restoring America belong to Americans. The marching for equality, the protesting of injustices, the multi-racial /multi-ethnic coordination of American’s to fight for the long forgotten American dream: this challenge belongs to the people. Making our voices heard from town halls to the halls outside the oval office.
Like other great firsts in America’s history of revolutions and civil rights, the first black president has spurred the hope of people in a degrading society. And hope is often enough. I would only ask that we ride this wave of hope together. Because, as Bill Moyers said in his Journal, the new president will disappoint, “all presidents do.” And we must be prepared to carry the torch of equality, liberty and justice long after the first black president has etched his name into history books.
As a Kenyan press urged their readers in The Standard’s Nov. 12 article, “In the next few weeks, Obamania will fade and realities return. We can however honour him by translating his inspiration into honesty, hard work and opening up opportunities to all.” That is, afterall, the national duty of any people with the audacity of hope.
To contact Iris, email i-feliciano@neiu.edu.