Malia, Sasha and Barack: Are his daughters that indefinable
ingredient that make the president so effective?
Nachrichten, Switzerland
Sasha, Malia and the Remarkable Mr. Obama
"For
men like Obama, politics is a personal and even existential affair. He is just
as committed to the United States as he is to his own daughters. When his
tenure ends, it is to them that he will be accountable. Perhaps having a perspective
longer than the next election isn't such a bad condition for policy making."
It was a journey through
minefields - a series of state visits that offered infinite possibilities for
embarrassing, harebrained moments and resentment. At
least they would have if the last president of the United States was still in the office.
But Obama breezed through it
- all of those potential sources of resentment and alienation, of unworthiness
and shallowness, bypassed.
The speech in Egypt was an
impressive start, in which he showed humility and strength, admitted to the mistakes
of the past and showed a determination to positively shape the future.
The Republicans, who
accuse Obama of showing weakness on the part of the United States, fail to
grasp that only those who are strong are capable of freely admitting error. It
is the weakling who behaves as though they never occurred. In the eyes of the
world, Obama demonstrated strength.
Similarly, when visiting Buchenwald,
one of Europe's places of horror where racism, ideological and mythical delusion,
industrial efficiency, petty-minded subservience and sheer brutality led to one
of the most immense mass murders in history.
Obama seemed visibly
shaken, showing that the suffering which took place there had moving him
deeply.
During his appearance at
D-Day ceremonies in Normandy, Obama clearly conducted himself with dignity. He once
again made it possible for an American president to be accepted and even regarded
with affection - something that hasn't been the case since the turn of the
century.
Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US
The result is that many
people see Obama as authentic and not just someone playing a game who knows he's
set for life anyway - like Bush and his cronies. In this he also differs
from lots of European politicians, be they Gordon Brown, Silvio
Berlusconi or Nicolas Sarkozy.
Many people wonder what trick
Obama uses to do this - sure that it must be a stunt, even if he's a first rate
actor. But perhaps the answer is much simpler and at the same time, much more
agreeable. The likelihood is that there are two answers, and here we can call
them by name: Malia Ann and Sasha - the daughters of Mr. Obama.
Since Kennedy's tenure,
there haven't been such young children living in the White House. Barack Obama is
probably the first president ever, who at one time changed the diapers of his children
and who doesn't regard child-rearing as the exclusive domain of his wife. When
Obama strives for a safer and more peaceful world, it's in no small measure on
behalf of his girls.
When one is heavily involved
with the upbringing and education of children, the awareness of human
vulnerability as well as empathy for others is strengthened. Of course, this
can be interpreted as a weakness, as sentimentality. But this is a
misunderstanding. Although his shell might be softer - the core of such a person
is all the tougher. Because it's a matter of securing the lives and future of the
children he loves so much - and if you threaten them, one best not expect any
niceties.
Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US
For men like Obama,
politics is a personal and even existential affair. He is just as committed to
the United States as he is to his own daughters. When his tenure ends, it is to
them that he will be accountable. Perhaps having a perspective longer than the
next election isn't such a bad condition for policy making. The secrets of the
remarkable Mr. Obama are not that big after all … they measure about 4ft 10in
and 5ft 4in ... but they certainly have the potential for further growth.
