Obama Opens New Chapter in American History

Obama Opens New Chapter in American History Illinois Senator Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan immigrant father and a Caucasian mother, has written a new chapter in U.S. history.

The United States is witnessing the first African-American to become the official presidential candidate on a major-party ticket in its 232-year history, 219 years after George Washington became the first president of the United Sates.

U.S. media defined the event as a “historic moment” when it became clear that Obama would become the Democratic presidential candidate.

○ New chapter in American history to come

Despite the jubilance, no one can tell for sure what will happen in the U.S. presidential election on November 4. Still, quite a number of Americans believe that a new chapter of American history is just beginning.

Above all, American voters have proven that color is only skin-deep and does not pose an obstacle to becoming a national leader. Racial discrimination, however, is still very much a reality in the lives of Americans, but when it comes to casting votes, in this case at least, it seems to have been cast aside.

George Washington University professor Kirk Larsen said that Obama’s nomination would serve as a turning point toward change and advance concerning the issue of “race.” Race has been one of the issues troubling U.S. society the most.

The avid political participation of young voters has contributed to the birth of the new chapter. Believed to constitute 21 percent of the entire voter population, or 44 million, young voters aged 18-29 were actively involved in the primaries and rewarded Obama with a historic victory.

The change has been propelled at the core by the diversity in American society. People of color from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East flocked to the United States and grew up with the Baby Boom generation. Thus, baby boomers are much more accepting of people of different colors.

○ Force Behind Obama revolution

Obama’s victory is the manifestation of Americans’ longing for change and hope. Obama has chanted, “Yes, We Can” rally after rally. The Obama mantra has become the most powerful message of the race.

The drawn out war on terror, which once commanded the support of more than 90 percent of Americans, has turned them against it, leading them to look for a new type of leadership and helping them accept it without much resistance.

“Nobody knows when. But the word ‘change’ has come to mark itself as the highest value. Some young voters care only about the appearance of the change envisioned by Obama, rather than bothering to know details about it,” said Dr. William Galston, senior fellow of governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

○ Natural Harmonizer

Alan Henrikson, associate professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, defines Obama as a leader with a God-given ability for harmonizing people. Henrikson attributes part of the gift to Obama’s unique family heritage.

Not only the United States itself, but also the whole world heeds Obama.

Threatened by Bush’s cowboy-style diplomacy based on the unilateral power of the United Sates, some countries are longing for change in U.S. foreign policies.

Obama, however, might end up as another Bradley in November. An election expert said, on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the race issue, that the Bradley effect might take its toll again, this time on Obama.

The term “Bradley effect” was first coined after then black candidate Tom Bradley for the California governor’s office lost the election in 1982, despite his huge victory in the popular vote. Some are concerned that conservative white Americans will not recognize an African-American as their president.

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