Thank you America

Thank you America! Thank you for not only electing the right person as President for your country, but also the right President that the world has asked for.

Let’s face it, the past 8 years have not been the best for a lot of people. When Bill Clinton left office in 2000 the world was a good place to be. America had won the ideological and philosophical cold war to come out as the lone superpower. The world was generally prosperous and did not witness any major conflicts.

When George W. Bush came into the presidency in 2001 he had most likely hoped that during his term, he would be able to ride this wave of affluence and be seen as a good president. However, things never played out that way as the September 11 attack changed everything – not only for America for the world.

Bush had the chance to be seen as a great president but he failed miserably with his responses - first the war on Afghanistan and then the war in Iraq whose reasons were questionable. These events conspired to smear America’s standing in the world as a just and honourable power (as they like to show in the movies). Adding the recent events such as the economic crisis which stemmed from America’s financial dealings and the environmental issues that have pervaded the world, there has been a sense of pessimism that enveloped the world.

This election gave America a chance to right those wrongs, to not only bring about change for its people, but also change for the world. In a word, this election could bring back HOPE!

With Barack Obama becoming president, I awoke with a sense of optimism, with hope, that the world’s ills could be righted.

Although I am an Australia, I knew this election would define the course of the world for a generation. I was passionate about this election, because from America, the world takes it leads.

In Obama, I saw a true leader, one who could inspire, one who is thinks about his responses. A person who seeks advice on topics he requires knowledge on. I believe we have found someone who is a thinker, who is eloquent and able to converse with whomever, no matter what their ideologies are.

Afterall, has any election garnered this much attention from the world? Has any Presidential result produced this much positiveness?

This was the result the world wanted! Nearly 75% of Australians wanted Barack Obama as president, and apparently his appeal to most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa were just as high.

Now the world has got they wanted. Now the pressure is on.

Can he deliver what he promised?

More importantly, can he be the leader that we have hoped for?