The swearing-in ceremony of President Obama

20 January 2009
The TV was turned on in a million homes across the world. We sat and watched with wonder as thousands of people converged to the Mall, on that cold winter morning. Every person interviewed said that it was history in the making. Every person there knew that he had no chances of getting even a glimpse of the real Obama. They had travelled miles, were willing to stand for hours and brave the fierce winter winds to witness together, the big event on big screen. And they had absolutely no complaints; on the other hand, we heard jingles and songs and lots of fun time.
Like actor Will Smith said, Obama is an Idea.
Every nation today is a tired victim of senseless violence, hatred and corrosion. The perpetrators of this violence belong to no particular religion, race or nation. They have no accountability, no responsibility.
We have learnt the hard way that prosperity and adversity have chain reactions. If my neighbour suffers, I suffer too. But we are so caught up in suspicions we cannot stretch out a hand in friendship without looking cautiously over our shoulder. The irony of the day is that people hired to the dirty job have turned against the hirer himself.
The sane world wants peace. The world wants to be friends. The world is looking to Obama to be the catalyst that brings peace and harmony to the world. Enough wealth can be created in peace, so that every nation on earth evolves into a developed country.
That is the hope the world has in Obama.
Obama must succeed.