During the 2004 Democratic Convention, Obama was asked if he would run for President in the next election. At that time he said that he would definitely not run for President in 2008. Fast-forward five years: with a crowd of one and a half million people in Washington DC, tripling the amount present in 2005, when Obama gave his first speech as the 44th President of the United States. I have been following Obama’s campaign since he decided to run for President, and I did research on his political background. Every time Obama makes a speech, they are always packed with such strong conviction and oriented goals that I get emotional.
Last spring while he was on his campaign trail, Obama delivered a speech at Assembly Hall and I was fortunate enough to be standing three rows from the stage. Through his speeches and sheer confidence as an individual, he gives most people, if not everyone, hope for a better tomorrow, and reminds us to stay optimistic for our future. This was proven on Inauguration Day when the various news outlets covering the inauguration showed a classroom in Indonesia, and a village in Kenya, where citizens were watching the inauguration intently. This is not only about the United States; this day is so much greater. The whole world has been influenced and inspired by his words, and I put all my faith in him that he will accomplish all his goals and turn our country around. He has put a little shred of hope back in the lives of most American people, and that is truly inspiring.
The whole five hours I sat in front of the television, watching CNN coverage, I felt proud, not only for our new President, but also for myself, for the people I volunteered with, the people who knocked on doors, the people who got out early to vote, the people who cared enough to vote at all. As Obama said, he cannot do this alone, so the challenges we face will have to be worked on by everyone. That is the beauty of true Democracy, we are free and we receive what we earn.
Elizabeth Alexander’s poem, which followed Obama’s speech, was also very powering. “Praise Song for the Day” not only discussed certain surroundings within our environment today, but she also paid homage to America’s history. She discussed cotton picking and hard work, showing America’s backbone and commitment to hard labor. I also personally believe that Alexander placed “cotton picking” in this poem to show how far the African American race had advanced, and how America has evolved into an equal environment. Alexander used everyday situations, for instance simply passing someone on the street, to highlight that everyone has a purpose, and that everyone at this moment in time has seen and felt change. I was in awe after President Obama’s speech, and Alexander’s poem just flowed so nicely, rendering me even more mesmerized. The poem and speech coincided into a beautiful prospect that someday our children and grandchildren will learn about in their history classes. In that instant, this will still be monumental, and will never seem archaic. This is a mind-blowing event that we can tell for generations.
This just further proves that in America, anything is possible, and I am more than thrilled to call Mr. Barack H. Obama my President.
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