Putting aside the world economic crisis, continuing wars, bomb threats, bomb detonations, terrorists attacking the innocent, the Taliban flocking to Yemen and causing trouble on the border with Saudi, several horrible airplane crashes, Jeddah flooding due to poor infrastructure, America’s health care bill still not getting anywhere, Sarah Palin getting media attention, and Iran pursuing nuclear power, 2009 was actually not that bad! I’ll tell you why.
After 8 terrible,shameful, and utterly pathetic years of Bush playing president of the United States, we Americans could finally breathe. We no longer had to admit that our president is an idiot or how the current government is truly a disgrace and misrepresents its citizens. America was given a fresh start (well… as fresh a start you can get after destroying your reputation, killing the economy, and losing the world’s trust). Thank you democracy for letting voters make as sane and reasonable a decision as they are capable of , and thank you God for not letting McCain and his naïve, “neighbor to Russia” Sara Palin win the elections. By choosing Barack Obama, America proved to everyone in the world that was sitting on the edge of his or her seat that Americans were just as sick of the Bush administration, and it was time to go in another direction. All nationalities, including most Arabs, were willing to listen and give the United States another chance. The world was moved by hope and the prospect of change. The 2008 presidential election brought people together and made everyone realize the beauty of possibility.
Adding to the fact that it was the election of a man of promise and honest leadership, it was the election of our first black president, making an already interesting election very exciting. Americans were proud and thankful. It reminded them how far society has come, and how the dreams of activists as Martin Luther King have come true. People knew they were witnessing a moment in history that will never be forgotten.
In the Middle East, one of the things that surprised me most post-election and inauguration was how open-minded and positive a lot of Arabs were about Obama. I had people telling me how happy they were that Obama is now president and how America may not be so “evil” after all. Many were so proud that his middle Arab name “Hussein” was said aloud and not ignored and that his step-father was Muslim. “Maybe he’ll understand us and put an end to the war,” I was told many times. It shocked me to hear people around me speaking in a tone other than that of anger and hatred because for the past 8 years I had to ignore all political discussions that involved the USA to avoid confrontation or unfair treatment, even by some teachers; however, I still doubt I could hang the American flag in class alongside other flags without being told to take it down. Wounds heel but leave scars behind. Some things will never change once they are ingraned. Hate is far easier to express than love.
What everyone needs to take note if is that America is great, but even the greatest things have flaws. Perfection does not exist. America has given so much to the world and as a result is always depended on and looked to for more. Arabs see the US as both a problem and a solution. While although many will willingly talk of their dislike of the United States, I doubt anyone would reject being a citizen and being able to say “Yes, I am an American.” Arabs, and the world, will forever have high expectations from the United States, and, therefore, it will always be sure to disappoint them. I just hope Americans will continue to keep up the hope and faith they had a year ago, and not give up easily. All the damage done will take more than a year, or even one term, to be repaired.
Honestly, the election and inauguration of President Obama alone made 2009 great for me. It was nice to finally be able to proudly acknowledge the president of my country and to know that once rock bottom was hit with Bush there was nowhere to go but up.
SocialVibe