Obama touches a chord in his farewell address
President Obama’s term at the White House will soon be history. He did many firsts and tried to reset the global power calculus, with his diplomacy and oratory skills. He opened a new chapter with the Cuban people after 88 years of deadlock in bilateral relations, shut down Iran's nuclear weapons programme without even firing a shot, landed up in Vietnam to close down another chapter of horrors of war, managed to wipe out Osama bin laden (the biggest mastermind of global terror), and brought his people the right to health insurance. These are only a few instances that saw him marshalling America through turbulent times, but every time he did, he kept his countrymen informed. Thus, he emphatically said while delivering his final address to his people: “But that's what we did. That's what you did. You were the change. The answer to people's hopes and, because of you, by almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started.” Obama has always chosen smart linguistics to represent American interests. Beyond this, he projected the collective political ideologies and goals of both his country and its allies together with implicit exhibition of power, dominance and, at times with hostility. But his persona and the philosophy of taking everyone together will remain the most significant signpost of his presidential era. However, during his time, there were rising racial crimes in the US. He was helpless in bringing a solution in war-torn West Asia; he failed to bring forth a sense of security among American allies in the controversial South China Sea conflict against China's constant military build-up in the area.
But these aside, he will be remembered for re-asserting his supreme faith in the basic ideals of the American polity. As he said: “But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all, and not just some.” Indeed, this is where the worth of America lies and that is why millions in Asia, Africa and in latin America find a home and hearth in that land. The world must applaud Obama for his constant attempts to make America safe and secured for all, irrespective any bias. America's cosmopolitan cultural ethos must continue. The emerging waves of racist and ethno-nationalistic narratives should not be allowed to overshadow the founding principles of the American society and polity. Obama's resounding belief that the ‘American dream' can survive, is further rooted in his deep-seated feeling that the people of his country would make it happen. With his departure in just a few days and Donald J Trump taking over, Americans along with the international community will closely watch how the latter's ‘Make America Great Again' catch-phrase will take the country forward, without compromising the core credentials set by the founding fathers of the Constitution. Failure in this task is no option for the President-elect.