Firstly, I want to thank Adrianne George for inviting me to contribute to this blog. I am very honoured to be a part of this moment. I live in the UK and have been following the rise of Obama to the US Presidency along with the rest of the world.
I recently visited a website where anyone can contribute to a forthcoming book on President Obama. It’s at http://www.obamabook.org/index.html
Below is my addition to the book – my personal message to President Obama.
Dear President Obama,
You have given the impression that you are committed to peace. You certainly appear to be a man of strong integrity.
Like many, I have been swept along by a tide of euphoria at your election and inauguration. This could be a profoundly historic moment for African Americans and for people everywhere.
I have been very emotional and tearful as I have seen your success within the context of African American people’s struggles, and African people’s struggles everywhere.
You have a knowledge of your own history as a man of Kenyan parentage, even though your father was absent and, it seems, did not participate in your upbringing.
We are in the midst of a global financial crisis. You know you are facing a hard task and we all have some tough times ahead – you have said so many times. You have not presented yourself as some kind of saviour with instant solutions you can pull out of your back pocket, and I respect you for this. Yet, I wonder whether we are investing too much hope and optimism in you. It is simply too soon to tell.
I have some concerns about what your election will mean for African American people, but I am prepared to hold back on criticism and give you a chance to show what you can do.
You may be interested in my articles: Celebrating Barack Obama http://www.squidoo.com/Celebrating-Obama and Obama’s Inauguration Day http://www.squidoo.com/Obama-s-Inauguration, in which I give the view from Brixton and details of celebrations in other countries.
I wish you all the best. I wish you peace and long life. This has the potential to be a great moment for all of us. The future is in your hands.
Blessings,
Zhana
