Obama is Change

Obamanation: 1. the fanatical obsession that has swept the United States in support of Barack Obama: “He has done so well that it is clearly an Obamanation”- Urban Dictionary

Pulled by the tug of history, it was no surprise that an estimated 2 million people attended the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States today. As a sea of people filled the National Mall in Washington, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment for America, and the free world. They have elected their first African- American President, Barack Obama

“A man whose father, less than 60 years ago, might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath,” said Obama. These words were the ones that stood out most to me. It is not uncommon for a nation to show its support for a nominee through the campaigning and voting process. However, for a country who until recently has only elected Caucasian president’s, the nation’s support for an African-American president is a step to equality for all; past, present, and future.

In my opinion, Obama does not only represent defeat for African-Americans, but for all races, cultures, and genders who struggle to make themselves equal. A young African-American boy interviewed in his classroom by ABC television this afternoon, said he aspires to be the next president after seeing Obama sworn in. That is truly moving.

I can’t help but get caught up in the Obama fever. Despite my lack of knowledge surrounding the history of the United States, as a Canadian citizen with dual-citizenship in the U.S., I wanted to be apart of today’s festivities. An individual with the hopes of change, not just the United States, but for countries around the world, has a lasting affect on his followers. The opportunity to watch history being made, and sharing a collective moment of happiness and pride in the citizens of a country, leaves me feeling that change has truly and finally come to America.