Mosaiko

The U.S. Turns Page

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By U.S. Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard

This week, Americans once again celebrated the peaceful transition of executive power as Barack Obama took the Oath of Office as the 44^th President of the United States.  At this great, historic moment, my family and I were at the American Community School in Athens, along with hundreds of other Americans and friends of the United States.  What better place to be than in Greece, which gave the gift of democracy to the young United States?  And what better way to renew America’s promise than to start by listening to youth?

Mr. Obama is a uniquely 21^st century president, reflecting America’s capacity to renew and re-invent itself through the democratic process.  It is amazing how far the United States has come in such a short time.  When Barack Obama was born in 1961, many states had laws on their books that enforced racial segregation, banned mixed-race marriages and restricted minority voting rights. Today, as he takes the Oath of Office, Mr. Obama is the living embodiment of the idea that all people are created equal.

Throughout his life, Mr. Obama has broken barriers and crossed political divides.  His father an immigrant from Kenya, and his mother from the heart of the Midwest in Kansas, Mr.Obama is the first African-American to become president and the first U.S. president to have spent his formative years abroad, having lived in Indonesia as an immigrant before returning to the United States.  Through hard work, dedication, and creativity Barack Obama succeeded as a student, professor, senator, and ultimately was elected President.  From his use of the internet in his campaign to his fondness for his palm pilot, President Obama has also embraced technological innovations that will likely change American political campaigns forever.

We expect President Obama’s ability to reach across political, generational, ethnic, and racial lines to characterize his approach to international issues as well.  President Obama can bring to foreign affairs a life enriched by his unique family history and personal experience.  He has stated the need to forge alliances and rekindle relationships with old friends, and explained why America should do this in some detail:

“In today’s globalized world, the security of the American people is inextricably linked to the security of all people. When narco-trafficking and corruption threaten democracy in Latin America, it is America’s problem, too. When poor villagers in Indonesia have no choice but to send chickens to market infected with avian flu, it cannot be seen as a distant concern. When religious schools in Pakistan teach hatred to young children, our children are threatened as well. Whether it’s global terrorism or pandemic disease, dramatic climate change or the proliferation of weapons of mass annihilation, the threats we face at the dawn of the 21st century can no longer be contained by borders and boundaries…. America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America.”

One of the strengths of America is its ability to adapt.  After a contentious U.S. election,  83% of Americans – a record number – hold a favorable opinion of Obama and recognize the need to come together to face today’s daunting challenges.  As America turns a page, we look forward to working closely with the world’s first democracy, Greece, to widen our dialogue and enhance cooperation.  We face many of the same challenges, from managing the global economic crisis to addressing environmental problems.  We owe it not just to ourselves but to all the world’s children to come together to find solutions.