A Time for Change and Healing

America today voted in a black President, a most unlikely candidate, but Barack Obama with much tact and perseverance managed to convince the electorate of a need for major change. Americans have spoken. What a change it was. Obama scored a bigger electoral victory than Bush did in either 2000 or 2004. He polled 349 against McCain’s 174, a margin of 2:1.

America has shown the world leadership in race relation. They have put aside their racial differences and voted as a united people disregarding petty differences for a greater good.

With three small words, he captured the hopes of not just America, but of the world. 'Change has come,' said Barack Obama. In his acceptance speech, President Barack Obama spoke of the dreams of the people and the values they all share. This phrase is meaningful: “…we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.'

All across the world, people of various nationalities and colour celebrated his victory. Kenya declared Thursday a public holiday. Obama’s father was from Kenya. In Singapore, a post in the Straits Times wrote, 'This is our moment. This is our time...that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond...Yes, we can.'

Yes we can, the campaign theme of Obama resonates even now to the rest of the world, telling us that we must unite and promote peace if we are to build a future for our next generation.