Embodiment of the dream

To listen to Barack Obama's victory speech last November 5 as President-elect was a privilege. It was a privilege first and foremost to be present in spirit at such a historic event, which may have set down parameters for all future Presidential elections. The hope is that other, similar, elections or situations are held within the same parameters, that is, one based on content.

His speech once more indicated his desire for inclusiveness. His desire to avoid division, to avoid falling into the trap of the us-and-them syndrome. There is much we, in Malta, can learn objectively from the words of his speech.

His words about John McCain were of such respect that it seems almost objectively unacceptable to refer to each other as the victor and vanquished.

"Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor (Sarah) Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead."

These are amazing words that show the high regard in which he held his opponents. They also give us an inkling as to the gentlemanly manner with which Mr Obama intends to do politics. Criticism when fair is always acceptable. To err is, of course, human and so infallibility is not an option. To publicly show such a high opinion of Senator McCain is in itself an attitude meritorious of respect.

Mr Obama has built his campaign around the common man. His intentions are to improve the lot of the man in the street. He intends to make every Joe feel like a million dollars! He has placed a large emphasis on values. This is why his campaign was made by the common people.

"But, above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you... It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five and 10 and 20 dollars to the cause... It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep... It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organised and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the earth."

What wonderful words of thanks to all those hundreds of volunteers seen and unseen who gave up their time to work for what they believed in! The dream that is the American Dream is alive and well in these choice words of a man who is himself an embodiment of the Dream.

There are so many members of the civil rights movement in the US who still cannot believe what has happened. They cannot believe that the President-elect is really there for them. Mr Obama has insisted on change because it is only through change that you can get to a better way. To go with the flow is not enough when there are so many around who are suffering financially and emotionally. The election of Mr Obama is a huge generator of hope for better days.

"But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

"To those - to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

There will be those who will try to challenge the dream. There will be those who want Mr Obama to fail. There will be those who refuse to understand his meaning for change. There will be those for whom the status quo is a better option. But Mr Obama's words have laid down the gauntlet. His way will be the better way, not always the easier way, but definitely the better way.

Once his intentions are noble, that is already a victory in itself. The very fact of having so many millions of Americans sharing his noble dream of hope and change can only mean that his dream is their dream.

Martin Luther King had a dream. Mr Obama furthered that dream into a message of hope for the future. The American electorate has made that dream a reality. His success will be our success.