Did President Barrack Obama rekindle the audacity of hope?

Scene at the Democratic National Convention [Photo:Reuters]

By Jacktone S. Ambuka

He came waving a magic wand-a wand that mesmerized his friends and hypnotized his foes. From obscurity, he appeared with a message of hope and change. His eloquence and mastery of spoken words turned him into an overnight sensation and a global phenomenon.

His ability to connect with multitudes would later see him tagged one of the greatest orators of all time. He came as a prophet of hope-a prophet that all Americans had been waiting for-a prophet who would solve all problems that had bedeviled and dodged America for decades.

Following a tough competition with his main challenger Republican senator John Mcain, he emerged the 44^th president of the United States. His name is Barack Obama-in him, America saw everything possible.

In a racially, politically and ideologically “segregated” America, the self-proclaimed “skinny kid with a funny name”-President Barack Hussein Obama presented himself as an alternative voice of reason-a voice that all Americans-Democrats, Republicans, independents, conservatives, liberals, white, black, poor and rich had been waiting for to speak healing words and utter reconciliatory messages. He didn’t disappoint.

While delivering a keynote address in the 2004  Democratic National Convention that endorsed John Kerry to run for president on democratic ticket, the then young junior senator from Illinois spoke words that would catapult him to the national and international stage, reverberate across America and leave indelible mark on the political landscape of America.

“There is not a liberal America and a conservative America-there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America -- there’s the United States of America.” Barack roared.

Born of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother; President Obama introduced something new and fresh to American society: “hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty-the audacity of hope.”

His message and slogan of “Yes we can” captured American imagination and aroused curiosity around the world. Americans of all spectrums believed in Barack’s message of hope and change. And believing, Americans gave him the golden opportunity to become the president of the United States of America.

Four years down the line, Mr. Obama alongside his trusted lieutenant Vice-president Joe Biden stood with profound gratitude to accept yet another second and final nomination to run for presidency on Democratic ticket.

As he stood on a podium in Charlotte North Carolina where National democratic convention was held, president Obama came with a slightly different inspirational message than the original one he had four years ago of hope and change. “You didn’t elect me to tell you what you want to hear” Mr. Obama affirmed. You elected me “to tell you the truth” president Obama said.

In my opinion, president Obama accepted the nomination to run for president with a twist. He presented himself as mature, realistic and pragmatic leader who has been shaped and formed by the challenges and bureaucratic nature of the presidency of the US. He seemingly acknowledged that the office is one whose power is very well checked and balanced by other arms of the government.

“I was young senator who came with a message of hope-that hope has been tested.” President Barack Obama confessed.

Promises Kept

While he assumed presidency in the worst economic times in decades, he has stabilized an economy that was otherwise in deep recession. In spite of economic depression he inherited from his predecessor George W. Bush, president Obama was categorical that his faith in the ability of American people and his resoluteness in the greatness of America had turned things around. You cannot bet on America, he says.

When he run for president, he promised to annihilate al-Qaida and its leader-Osama Bin Laden-he did. President Obama’s regime killed Osama and has disoriented the al-Qaida network. He promised to end the war in Iraqi-he did. He promised to pass health-care reforms that would guarantee all Americans with universal healthcare without being intimidated by health insurances-he did.

Unlike his Republican opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, president Barack wants to reform Medicare “not by asking seniors to pay thousands and thousands of dollars” but by transforming it into a vibrant scheme with ability to cater for the health-care needs of the elderly people. He affirms that senior citizens must be treated with dignity and respect.

 After all he has been through, president Barack Obama is still a believer. While his experiences at the oval office have inspired pragmatism in him, his message of hope and change is still the epicenter of his campaign.

“Ours is a future filled with hope” he uttered as he accepted nomination. “If you share that hope with me, I ask you to vote for me” he concluded.

From whichever perspective and prism you look at president Obama’s message, there is one undeniable truth: Mr. Obama still has his unique way with words-not just empty words but words that inspire and arouse a feeling of invincibility. He speaks a timely message.

With inspiring messages and endorsements from one of the most favorite presidents of the United States- former president Bill Clinton, Democrats acknowledged Barrack Obama’s message of hope-but this time-it was a realistic message of hope and change.

When all is said and done, Mr. Barrack Obama embodies the aspirations and greatness of America. While some people have disagreed with Mr. Obama for his endorsement of gay marriages, I dare say, he epitomizes what is and should be the beauty of American society and the possibilities of a land of opportunities and a home of the brave.

The ball now is in the court of all American people-white, black, Democrats, Republican, independents, liberals and conservatives. On Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Americans will decide who between Mr. Obama and Mitt Romney will become the 45^th president of the United States. Then shall Americans and the world know if indeed Mr. Barrack Obama rekindled “The audacity of hope.” But for now, all parties have hit the campaign trail. America is officially in a campaign mood.

Jacktone S. Ambuka, residing in Pennsylvania USA. Works for Strawberry fields Inc.-a non profit organization that cares for people with developmental disabilities.