Barack Obama, and Change

Barack Obama got elected last night, and I just finished watching video of him congratulating the people on their victory.  What I took away from that speech as particularily unique was that he made no mention of his own victory.  Instead he extended an olive branch to the voters he couldn’t convince, and said ‘even though he didn’t earn their vote, he still heard their voice.  I’m your president too.’  Such selflessness is a quality I wish we had in our leader here in Canada.  His awareness of the needs of the people is something I have not witnessed in my time here, and I’m in awe of his ability to remain focused and objective at all times.

It’s refreshing to see a candidate apply for the job because they know they will excel at it, not because it will look good on a resume.  Because they want to help others, not help themselves.  It is for this reason that Barack didn’t stand at a podium and extole himself for winning the greatest office on the globe.  He instead recognised that his goal was not to be president, his goal was to create change.  A goal that has yet to be accomplished, and so he took the opportunity to get the people excited for the possibilities that goal has for the citizens of their Union.  He humbly described what children are taught to be the greatest acheivement available in the US, as being given a chance to do something great.  As an opportunity to create change, and emphasized that he would be powerless to do it on his own.

Barack Obama is a man, our political candidates are playground children by comparison. They bicker and squabble and even mock each other’s clothing. I long for leaders like Barack Obama, and I sincerely hope he gets elected for a second term.

Cheers,

Kevin