Obama: What should happen now?

Obama is a man of great charisma and I am very jealous of America!Here in the UK we wait, and wait for someone of charisma to step up for us.And then the thought occurs to me that we get the politicians we deserve...but I hope for better.

I happened to have travelled to my rural home town in Kisumu in the same week Obama worn the elections and could not believe the positive effect this win had on Kisumu residence. From boda boda cyclist to women selling vegetables the story is that all is possible if we try hadder and involve people at the grassroots in our activities. The Kogello village where Obama's father hails from is receiving all the attention and as I left Kisumu the Kenya power was busy putting up electicity supply in the village.

wohoo go obama :>

hi, i dont know much about obamas policies but i have tried to follow him as best i can being 14. i think it will be a good change for america and i hope he is against unnecessary war because so many good men have died, i hope all the best for america and i hope racsicm and crime come on a low because what is the point to either of them...?

he is the best.

look, i love obama because i am all for black power, and gay pride, i have very strong feelings about groups who dont get a 'chance' with hate going on im glad to see obama in charge

It is a sign of hope and engagement for changes of the political and economic options. It is a choice and more a decision that we have to support.

Lots of people are waxing lyrical about it being historic that Mr Obama is the 1st black American President. America has certainly turned a corner in that respect.

But most seem to be ignoring the historical fact that he is the most vehement pro abortion candidate to ever run for office. In this respect, America has turned a very evil corner in her history.

This man has PROMISED to legislate to make abortion more widespread through the Freedom of Choice Act.

Instead of celebrating his election, America, and Mr Obama needs all our prayers that the only change this man will bring about is a change in his own heart.

God help America. She needs God's help more than ever now with this man at the helm.

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For one thing he is as equally black as he is white!! or are we forgetting the women who brought him up with good values? its a shame the colour of his skin is such an issue, and is that the reason people voted for him? because he was black, then its a sad world we live in, vote for the man and nothing else

It has to be the most historic day of the 21st century! i was so pleased. now i know that change will happen, having a black man in charge will show everyone how equal we can be! sorry if this doesnt make sense but you get me!

This is a great step forward for America, and indeed the rest of the world!

Barak Obama is a leader of the time;He is blessed by Almighty and He would win the long run since he has clear vision and Mission.when he said I am the followe of Martin Luther king,from that day He won my heart,I love him from the core of my heart.It is he who can ability to 'Unite' the states of America;Black,yellow, whit are in one line under the great leadership of this leader.

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It was indeed a historic momentous emotionally moving result. But lest not us forget that Barack Obama is human and therefore undoubtedly is prone to make mistakes whether intentional or unintentional, like we all have done or will do. None of us can judge him as it is not right to judge others. So as we have been doing for many years - we must continue to do and that is Pray and campaign for a holy future and pray and campaign that he will make the right decisions based on spiritual directions from God. Nevertheless 'Congratulations' are in order as God has a purpose for him as he does for all of us. If that very purpose was to regenerate hope and faith in a fast decaying world - in one night that has been done.

Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but I agree with Sandy.

Sure, it's a great step forward for an Afro-american to achieve the highest office, and he has great charisma. But I am fearful that Mr Obama will sign the Freedom of Choice Act and precipitate more abortions, including live birth abortions and partial birth abortions. I pray that it won't happen but this is what he said he would do.

If he signs the Freedom of Choice Act, Catholic Doctors and Nurses may end up marginalised as the FOCA sweeps away freedom of conscience.

My Dear Friends,
The victory of Obama is indeed America's. But it is also ours in a way. It has proven what USA truly stands for. Opportunities are open to all. It is a world of possibilities.
I congratulate you and all lovers of democracy for this success. It is my wish that the whole world will learn from this especially Nigeria to have a free and fair elections in 2011.
There are great lessons to learn. But will Nigeria ever learn from history of others? For this we pray to the Lord.
If dreams ever become reality as it has proven with Martin Luther's, then we have reasons to hope. However we must work for it. It is our affair, all of us.
The batton is now onto Ghana, Ivory Coasts, etc. We keep them in our prayers that effots of stakeholders especially the masses will yield positive results.
The challenges are great but his success and being a good president is a collective responsibility. Listening to his sppech which he made in Chicago after the announcement, Yes Obama can, and Yes we can. God Bless America and God bless Humanity.

as a catholic,I am totally dismayed to find that this man will sign a bill which will make partial birth abortion legal.

My name sake will surely create the change. I have no doubt.

I give up with this typing: it destroys my spelling.

Any chance of correction the word 'reconciliation' which I have just speled really badly?
Sarah

There is something in the black character which seems to make them more able to forgive even the most awful personal damage and as for many, many decades we prayed for the conversion of Russia and Mr. Gorbachev turned up, perhaps our prayers for peace and rewcolciliation in the world needs someone like Mr. Obama. I am thrilled with his election and shall carry on praying for him, his country and for the world. May God bless him and all of us. (Oh, I am not American!)

I am an American who moved to London in 1992. For the first time in nearly 17 years I am proud to be an American again. As a young girl growing up in Dallas, Texas, I never went to school with a black person because of the shame of 'segregation'. (Our schools in Texas were integrated the year after I graduated.) I watched the civil rights movement unfold, and became politically aware and energised when I went to university. For an inspirational and charismatic black man like Barack Obama to become President of the United States - in my lifetime - is truly the realisation of Martin Luther King's dream only a short forty years ago. Will President Obama change things? Any new President would be enormously challenged by the mess s/he is inheriting from the failed Bush era - and no, Obama can't walk on water, heal the sick, make the lame walk or raise the dead...but change things? It has already begun. I kept an exerpt from an Obama speech in Feb 2008 and use it as a screensaver on my pc at work: 'Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.' So we have annointed him...now change is up to all of us.

I too stayed awake to hear the result after reading Austen Ivereigh's interpretation of Barack Obama which was sent to me on the eve of the election. It is well worth a read http://www.thinkingfaith.org/

And tagged with this comment "Obama win would change the world" Archbishop Desmond Tutu

There is no doubt that Obama has great energy to inspire people. (Mind you, I have friends whose puppies are named Barak!)

Obama has raised so much expectations for change around the world. I have serious doubt if he can ever met these expectations but I'm hopeful that he can initiate some meaningful change.

I couldn't believe it - even after Mcain came out and said it. I could have sworn something was gonna give - some glitch in the pooling machines, the ballots... All of this skepticism because after the Bush elections most Americans lost faith in democracy. Why would this time be differnt? But it was and here we are now. I'm trying not to have too many hopes for a guy that just got the world's toughest job and has to inherit the current mess. Either way, even if he totally sucks, this is an unprecedented opportunity. He's now an example, an inspiration for people all over the world. Every little kid, regardless of race, can now say with a bit more confidence - 'I want to be president when I grow up'. Obama, like Lula in Brazil (who comes from an underprivaledged background) are, just by virtue of being where they are, role models and we desperatly need some new ones.

I was as others have described, moved for the first time in many years by a politician speaking. He might not be able to guarantee success but part of the job is making people believe that it can be done - Yes We Can!

As an American Citizen and a registered Democrat I have been biting my nails for 2 years hoping for an Obama victory. It was great to be able to vote for him. Obama is smart and articulate and progressive- such a change from the previous president and he and his campaign have brought about a sea change in involving thousands and millions of Americans who have never been involved in the political process before.

And though the US, as well as the rest of the world, are facing tough times Obama is also on record to support many of the International Issues that we would want to see the US involved with like:
* Reducing the US's carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and play a strong positive role in negotiating a binding global treaty to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol
* Withdrawing all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months and keep no permanent bases in the country
* Establishing a clear goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons across the globe
* Closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center
* Doubling US aid to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculoses and Malaria
How can we not celebrate his election!!!

i still have goosebumps from listening to his speech... i hope Obama acts swiftly to revert some of the damage of the last 8 years - he could start with getting rid of the human rights atrocity which is Guantanamo!

I have great hopes for the future of America with Obama as their leader. What an amazing man, the way he speaks is truly inspirational. Colour shouldn't come into it, he is a great American man, not just a great black man. Things will change and the state they're in, only for the better. Thankyou America

Obama is different. I like how he speaks of we.

One thing I've noticed living as an "american abroad" for years, is that people around the world respond to one thing about the US. The creed "yes, we can". Which, poetically comes from "sí, se puede" -- the slogan of the United Farm Workers.

http://www.farmworkermovement.org/media/index.shtml

When Obama speaks of "we", he means that he can only change things with our help.

An African proverb says "No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come", and today I believe in it again, and I am moved and thrilled.
My congratulations go to all US-Americans, but also to all black brothers and sisters around the world.

Of course, me as a so-called "white" will never be able to fully understand what the election of a black brother as President of the United States of America, the fact, that a black family will live in the White House, really means to you.

But I surely know from so many discussions, how much you have been longing for a sign like this.

But it is not only a great day for black people, it is a great day for the mankind, I think. It is a great day for all of us who believe in working together and unite for a purpose, to build new alliances and to overcome prejudices can bring about a change.

We saw it already with the fall of the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and with the fall of the German wall, and now we see it again.

40 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King we came a big step closer to his dream, and the day may come that we do not describe a person by the colour of his or her skin first.

But we are now also encouraged to believe and work even harder that the the situations for the people in Israel-Palestine, in Somalia, in Iraq, in Sri-Lanka, in Congo, in Sudan and so many other places around the world will change for the better...

Of course we all know that it might still be a long way. The global challenges, be it the environment, the economy, the many armed conflicts, poverty, hunger, violence against women and children, diseases like HIV/Aids or Malaria, and discrimination are still in front of us.

But at least for me, and for today, I feel encouraged not to give in to those who say, it is better to give up any " idealism", as some things will never change. They will!

What great credit to America that they can create a system that can seem to drag us to the abyss, and then right itself again - and all without bloodshed. Credit to the ideals and virtues of America and that they can withstand all the pressures of the world

it is such an amazing day for ameriac to hav there FIRTS black president. he has proven to many other people that black peeople do have rights and that was no the case many years ago and still today and for him ot be PRESIDENT is amazing. he will change things now he is president. there are very scary risks of him being assasinated. he is very brave.

Switching on the telly this morning really felt like being part of history in the making!!! Great day, a great feel of hope and expectation - now I hope Obama will truly be able to deliver the change the US and the whole world are waiting for - My hopes and prayers are with him!!!

For those who are interested (and can get to London) The School of Oriental and African Studies is putting on the following lecture:

What Foreign Policies Can We Expect From The Obama Administration?

Tuesday 11 November – 5.30pm
Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS

Jonathan Paris, London-based Adjunct Fellow, Hudson Institute, Washington, DC

Chair: Ian Edge, SOAS

All Welcome
This lecture is free and there is no need to book. Tea and biscuits are available from 5pm.

For further information contact:
The London Middle East Institute at SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street,
Russell Square, London, WC1H OXG, T: 020 7898 4330; F: 020 7898 4329,E:lmei@soas.ac.uk, W:www.lmei.soas.ac.uk <http://www.lmei.soas.ac.uk/>

I usually only cry at films. But when I saw the picture of Jesse Jackson shedding a tear I could not help but do the same. Finally Martin Luther King's dream is coming true and with Obama we have a world leader who really does believe in inclusion. And whose belief in God shows itself in a Gospel of Yes and not the Gospel of No!

I am over the moon that North Americans elected Obama, since there are a plethora of opportunities this opens which would never have been possible under Mc Cain. But those opportunities must now be taken. They will not just happen. Obama himself said in his victory speech that governments need people to shape them. So the ball is in the court of North Americans in particular and under Obama the rest of the world may have more influence if it fights for it too. Now is the time to raise our voices coherently and test him on his promise to listen. This is only the beginning - what we make of this opportunity is up to us. It is my hope that having Obama in the most influential political office in the world will inspire individuals and groups everywhere to overcome their political apathy and to act. This is what he stands for in my mind. I hope that we will rise to the challenge.

When I heard this earl morning that Obama was the first black United States, I didn't want to believe in what I was hearing! For me this news fall like a dream! I said to myself: the world is really changing... I feel so happy and hopefully.I runned to the office to share with others. I believe Obama is the gret man to manage US and bring out the appropriate response to the American people. Hope Obama will work hard to avoid wars and terroris aroud the world. Anyway, it's a God will, God He's wonderful.

I love the fact that Kenya decided to have a national public holiday to celebrate the victory! see more of the world's reaction including the Vatican's http://www.foxnews.com/wir...0,4670,EUVaticanObama,00.html

Whether he is a great President or not, the fact he was elected is in itself monumental. There is something very special about Obama - he is the kind of man you feel a President should be. It says a lot about Americans that they finally rejected the politics of fear and went with the candidate that embodies everything that is best about their country. Suddenly it feels ok to like America again.

It's a fantastic result all round. My nightmare had been that McCain won and then something happened that prevented him from continuing and Palin took over!

I stayed up to watch the results,and a colleague kept me awake by texting me! Today feels like a new world has started, that at last America will make a proper stand on all that is not right in the world, war, poverty etc. I also feel that Obama in the White House gives so much hope to black people at last we have overcome and shold now work together not just working for justice at home but for in our countries of heritage. I hope this makes sense, I'm feeling so light headed! giddy, happy, proud to be a black british woman.

One of Obama's promises is to reduce the US's carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and play a strong positive role in negotiating a global treaty to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol and to launch a major diplomatic effort to stop the killings in Darfur.

*This* is the President Prime Minister should make friends with.

A truly historic day - no-one knows yet whether Obama will be a successful leader, but he is certainly guaranteed to create a huge change in American culture and society ... and for the best hopefully