pastery

A very close person to me once said – what the world needs now is hope… and he can gives us hope – in relation to the election of Barack Obama as the president of the United States of America. Obama is an incredibly amazing person and has created a profound and deep hope for the future. In Europe he has created a belief that the diplomacy – Europe has learnt the hard way is the only sustainable way – is finally conquering or the very least challenging the conservative wings even in the US. He has seeded a mentality that if we believe in change and that change can happen. Seeded a mentality that it will change. I listened to his speech in Cairo earlier addressed to the Muslim World. It is a unique and remarkable speech as it invites into a diplomatic solution and bridging differences between religions, cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and political genres. Yet he remained firm against violence, anarchy and non-democratic, destructive winds. Impressive.

When he received the Noble Peace Prize the world didn’t know what to think. Maybe the critics are right that he wouldn’t have gotten the prize if Bush wouldn’t have been in power, but imagine how quickly he has turned more or less the whole world into a state of anticipation. A state of thinking, hoping that it is possible. “Is it possible? No, it cannot. Yet he said it. He keeps saying it.” He seeds the hope over and over and over again. That in itself is what we need. The reason for the prize is shortly “… for 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world’s leading spokesman…”. That is really what he is. A spokesman for the change. The change that needs to happen. That must happen. Ironically I do not think him getting the prize necessarily is helping his strategy along to move into a more diplomatic way of dealing with conflicts around the world.

Talking about change is one thing and it is truly inspiring. Yet change ultimately only mean something if and when we see actions and results. So far he has not achieved those parts and they will take some time to see, yet they will be much more sustainable than going after the quick and easy fix. He wants to change the root of the problem, not the symptoms. Giving him a Nobel Peace Prize could potentially create a unnecessary pressure for fast tangible results and play into the hands of his opponents that he has not taken any actions nor created any tangible results.

I am torn. Hmm. I really don’t know. I still do think he deserves it.

I heard some answers and responses from so called “Christians” calling his presidency a farce and hinted that he is not Christian or follow Christian values. I was stunned. I still am. His presidency so far is definitely not a farce, and he is probably one of the most profound Christians. (In some ways I think it is better to put him as a sincere humanitarian not to get into a religious debate.) He believes in the good in people, and that they want and can change. He has some big not to say huge issues to tackle, which he has inherited, and too many thinks, as usual, as he – as some almighty savior – should and will solve them by himself. The impressive parts here is that he believes. He believes. He believes beyond anything, which is truly, truly amazing and what the world needs.

I am not sure if I should laugh, cry or be angry anymore when I hear comments about his presidency being a farce or him only being all talk and no action.

We all have to participate in changing this world because no one – no not “even” Obama – will on their own change the world. Obama can inspire us to make this change and desire the change. Yet. We, we will have to accomplish this change and also be willing to embrace this change because it will mean challenges ourselves in many way. We have to come beyond the opposing camp battle we now have blaming each other. In particular if you call yourself Christian, such a mentality makes absolutely no sense.

In many ways this world lacks compassion and empathy. Compassion to your fellow human beings – regardless of ethnicity, nationality, religion or culture. Unfortunately we do not have the “luxury” of picking and choosing here. It goes for anything and anyone – regardless of ethnicity, nationality, religion or culture. Just to make sure we do not get into a religious battle here. Compassion is big and important components in both Islam and Jewism as well.

It saddens me that there are still too many people out there not understanding that. It is not we against them. It is us as a global society against ourselves. We shape the future which we want to live in. We will have to fight ourselves to challenge us to make this world a better place.

In my mind, we have to get beyond this childish, immature and convenient mentality of blaming everyone else but ourselves. Hiding like ostriches with our heads in the sand. This mentality leads absolutely nowhere. At least Obama tries. For that he has my fullest sincerest respect and admiration. Who does really think we will get anywhere closer to a solution by not trying to believe in a change and attempting to change the world for the better?

Maybe it is time for us all to battle ourselves. That battle is not always a nice one. Yet people like Obama challenges us to do so. He creates seeds of hope for a better world. For that we should as a world be grateful for. We should also do our part to help that desire and quest. Not because he is Obama. Not because he is the President of the United States of America.

… but because…

… because it is the right thing to do.