Who will emulate President Obama ...?

The talk of the world at the moment is all about the inauguration of President Barack Obama in the US.President Obama’s ascension to the most powerful position there is means different things to different peoples.


(Thousands flock into Washington, DC to witness Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th President of the United States)

From a racial perspective, Obama’s elevation has finally brought to reality the notion that all men are born equal and the colour of the skin is really a trivial matter. From an age perspective, it means that wisdom and understanding is not determined by how many grey hairs one has but by careful application of reasoning and deduction.


From a political perspective, President Obama has demonstrated that charisma and eloquence can help you achieve your ambitions. But of all the things he has said and done, one thing that really struck me when listening to his inauguration speech has been his desire to return to the noble values of honesty, integrity, hard work, humility, respect, tolerance, sacrifice, free spirit, innovation and a spirit of service.

(The 44th US President Barack Obama is taking the oath as wife Michelle and daughters, Sasha and Malia look on during the inauguration on the 20th January 2009)

President Obama called for the Americans to return to these virtues which he described as the founding values on which their great nation was built and the pillars that continue to hold them together and allow them to remain as the most prosperous and powerful nation. He made clear his firm belief that the host of crises they are currently facing are largely owing to their slight departure from these timeless values and that America will return to embrace them again under his reign. He will be judged in four years on the extent to which he will have walked his talk, but his vision as it stands is crystal clear.So what’s in it for PNG?

Well, President Obama has opened up his heart and poured out America’s secret to success. But the good President did not invent these values over night. In his own words, “these values are old” and universal too, if I may add. So why don’t we try and emulate the Americans and embrace these values from here on in and see what that does to our country?PNG needs an articulate, charismatic and determined yet humble, sincere and practical leader like President Obama. Who is this leader and where is he or she?


David Kitchnoge


Port Moresby


Source: Post Courier