by Laila Salaam

Created on: December 05, 2008   Last Updated: January 09, 2009

I know you've seen them, the small crowds gathered around the lunch tables talking excitedly about the President-Elect. Even though the election's over, the normal lull that takes place between Election Day and the Presidential Inauguration, doesn't seem to have happened. Everywhere you go you hear people talking about the miracles they expect to see, beginning on January 21, 2009. From the boardroom to the bedroom people are talking about the symbol of change that is Barack Obama.

In the social environment, in clubs and pubs, around water fountains and soda fountains you hear the chatter. "Things are going to be different, soon." In the churches, synagogues, and mosques, the sermons and lectures surround the diversity that our President-Elect represents. People seem to be joining together, regardless of cultural background or religion, in support of Barack Obama.

Not only America, but the world, has placed the highest of expectations on the nation's first African-American President. It appears that his power of persuasion, ability to touch the heart of the common man, and focus on making change have created worldwide hope for a near-utopian future for the world. People love this man so much that I doubt he will be able to anything wrong in the eyes of those with cult-like devotion to the man who is soon to be our nation's leader. He may very well end up being one of the most well-known world figures of this millennium. I know he has broken myriad records of attendance at political rallies wherever he goes.

There is something very interesting in the cultural aspects of this man. He is a Christian man, with a Muslim name [Barack (blessing) Hussein (good) Obama (A common Kenyan surname)], who believes that Jerusalem is the rightful capitol city of the Jewish people. He is bi-racial with a European-American mother and an African father. He worked his way through college and dedicated the early part of his adult life to making life better for those in the Chicago slums. He can eat at a small-town diner with his wife and girls, change clothes and put on a new hat, and debate quite eloquently, a few hours later, with world heads of state. What more could the world ask for in a leader? Is it any wonder people have overlooked what first appeared to be some pretty major flaws in his background? (Oops, I forgot he's only going to President of the United States of America.)

Now, I know that there is a developing idea that people are going to say "hurray," no matter what

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>