OBAMA CANUTE

Barack Obama became the new President of America on Tuesday 20th January 2009, despite all the hullabaloo about America having its first black President, people should take a look at this photo of a young Barack with his mother.  

History was made on that day, but not because the USA elected its first black President, but in reality because America had elected its first half caste President.  He is after all the offspring of a white mother and a black African Kenyan father.

Considering the main theme throughout his election campaign was 'hope', it's strange that no one ever really picked up or made something of his mixed race, after all, what better message of hope for integration of the races could there be than that of a mixed marriage and their child becoming one of the most powerful people in the world.

There is, however, a problem with offering such hope in these extremely troubled times,

delivery of hope is going to be difficult when all is collapsing around.  President Obama could be seen as the man elected to stop the tide of recession and like King Canute may find himself swamped.  By the time of the next Presidential election there could be a lot of very disappointed Americans.

So what of Obama's inaugural speech?  After fluffing his lines during the swearing in, he made a very impressive speech, which was expected as there can be no denying he is a great orator, but there have been comments of plagiarism in within it.  It was a speech that despite the chanting and cheering throng of around a million people, had some messages in it which a lot of Americans may not take to when his words become deeds.  There was more socialist comment in his speech that you would expect from an American President, despite the fact he is a Democrat.  There was also strong a message of his green credentials which again could come as quite a shock for the nations that has always had a love affair with 'gas guzzling' cars and the open road.  How will the Americans take to new green laws which George Bush refused to sign up to in Kyoto?

As he settles in to his first days in office and begins to face up to global conflict and recession, Mr Obama will have a lot to tackle.  As the man whose decisions have knock-on effects for all of us, even though we belong to a different nation, all that can be hoped for is that he is up to the job and will not become Obama Canute.