On November 4th 2008, we were all witness to history, not just being made but being firmly cemented, sign-posted and covered in Neon lights. And, the world seemed to unite a little bit; we smiled at strangers, we had a spring in our steps and we talked about the future with excitement rather than in dreary tones of disbelief. We watched people in Africa and Asia, even here in stuffy Britain, dancing, naming their children after the man, getting excited about politics of all things and what a ruddy good time it was too.
But the reality of the world’s troubles eventually dampened the spirits. (The reality of unemployment for Luke left us as deflated as a pair of punctured lungs; a feeling shared by quite a few at the moment.)
It seemed, the euphoria of Obama’s victory wasn’t strong enough to make people forget their misery for too long.
People started worrying about their jobs and house prices.
Banks got given a lot of our money.
Transport cost more.
We could only afford Tesco value, Christmas was coming we had to shop at Primark we couldn’t afford a holiday we hadnomoneyandwewereallveryveryscared…!
And, it seems to be getting worse. No amount of discounts or blue-cross sales will actually make us buy anything because we don’t need sofas and jumpers: we need some different ideas.
Today was about different ideas.
Today we all remembered why we had forgotten our monetary woes, for a few blessed days, in November. It was because the United States has elected a leader with a clear vision; a vision that has given hope to the people of America and the rest of the world.
Whilst economic Armageddon has visited offices, factories and homes across the globe, whilst war has shattered the lives of people in the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia and more, and whilst the Ice caps melt faster than ever before, Barrack has been recruiting a team of bona-fide experts to assist him rejuvenate a world in dire need of repair.
His speech, given on a freezing day in Washington was received with more than just obligatory cheers by the gargantuan crowd. It was expectation mixed with fear and excitement, creating a palpable sense of togetherness. They were, in effect, the totem for Obama's belief that if they are to escape their current plight then we all have to recognise our inter-dependence and steer away from mis-placed individualism.
Obama, knows his history and he'll be aware that a speech is just a speech, that you're judged on your actions not your words. And, of course, reality will kick back tomorrow, with reports of the falling pound dominating the business section along with fears of deflation. We’ll hear of attacks in Kabul and Baghdad and the chaos of Gaza. We’ll read of government plans to build unpopular airport extensions. We’ll pump millions of tons of CO2 in to the atmosphere. Disease, slavery and poverty will still be the lot of the majority despite today's events.
But, unlike last November, when everyone got a fleeting taste for optimism and hope, this time we can savour it. Because, from tomorrow, Barrack Obama will be the most influential person in the world, and the man with the vision will begin putting in to place exactly what the world could do with; some new ideas.
We have no way of knowing if his are the right ideas, if his advisors are equipped to deal with the our shared problems, or if he can stay true to his word. But, for today at least, the world is full of good will; willing the new President to succeed, and maybe even willing to do its bit too.
Change might not always be a good thing, but taking stock of the world around us, it has to be worth a try.
