'THE CONQUEST OF THE WHITE
HOUSE'
[Hoje
Macau, Macau]
Estadao, Brazil
Civilized World
Must Hope Obama is What He Appears
"Obama is one of those public
figures that very rarely emerge, in which one doesn't distinguish the subject
from the verb: what he is and what he says form an amalgam in which a singular
biography and spellbinding personality come to life through voice."
EDITORIAL
Translated By Brandi Miller
January 22, 2009
Brazil
- Estadao - Original Article (Portuguese)
If a head of state's
performance in office could be deduced based on his inaugural speech, George W.
Bush would have been the president to "build a nation of justice and
opportunity" under the principles of "civility, courage, compassion
and character." Abroad, the United States would have guided itself with
"purpose without arrogance" preaching "the values that gave way
to the American nation." [Bush's 2001 inauguration WATCH 
] These famous first words give us cause for lament.
They are a warning, therefore, of the imprudence of taking the inaugural speech
of Barack Obama as a guide for predicting, if not in his actions, at least the
general outlines of his conduct in the White House. However, it is difficult to
resist the temptation. Obama is one of those public figures that very rarely
emerge, in which one doesn't distinguish the subject from the verb: what he is
and what he says form an amalgam in which a singular biography and spellbinding
personality come to life through voice.
Derived from this, even more
than the rhetorical good taste of his pronouncements, is the sense of
authenticity and inspiring power that emanate from his message. And this
excites us to look for what we all most anticipate after the debut of this most
improbable president in American history: indications that would allow us to
intuit if Obama actually will be a statesman able to effectively "restore
America."
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
That is the biggest goal that
he has undertaken - with rigor, and a memorable theme that, according to
critics, would be absent from his 20 minute speech, as usual delivered with
sobriety and conceptual clarity, elegant in its cadence, serene in its
expression and above all, respectful of the intelligence of others. And in this
way, without any ostentation or stridency, he announced what would guide his
government at the same time that he demolished the Bush era (while at his side,
the ex-president seemed like a foreign body in his transfigured country).
"On this day, we gather
because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and
discord," he declared to the 2 million compatriots that heard him, who
concentrated on the speaker in the glacial cold of a Washington winter.
"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false
promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have
strangled our politics." The certainty of change seemed to hover over the
vast space between the portico of the Capitol and the obelisk of the Washington
Monument, when Obama denounced the Bush rationale for torture of suspects
conspiring against the United States, which was explicitly authorized by the
White House. "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
Our founding fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a
charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man."
Mediocre politicians and
aspiring statesmen alike find themselves at the mercy of unpredictable global
events and incontrollable developments. Only after the surprises present
themselves is it possible to separate the former from the latter. But there's
more than enough substance in Obama’s words to permit the expectation that
under his leadership, the restoration of dignified relations between the United
States and the international system will strengthen stability by limiting the
risks and uncertainties. "For the world has changed, and we must change
with it," he argued. With change, the United States will be "ready
to lead once more … with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions."
Turning the page on the supremacy erected during the years of the Bush
doctrine, Obama emphasized that "our power alone cannot protect us, nor
does it entitle us to do as we please."
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
With circumspection and for
the sake of the people who will strive to achieve his objectives, he said of
those, "inducing terror and slaughtering innocents … you cannot outlast
us, and we will defeat you." But he also extended his hand, "if you
are willing to unclench your fist" - an offer that won't take long to face
the test of reality - in Iran,
for example.
It is in the interest of the
civilized world that the equity of goodwill and global admiration with which
Obama takes the helm leads him to take foreign policy decisions consistent with
his auspicious exposition.
CLICK HERE FOR PORTUGUESE
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
January 24, 8:15am]
