Congratulations, Mr. President.

A few hours ago, I watched Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony in a hostel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside with about a dozen of international backpackers. All but one of us were non-Americans.

“And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.”

In BBC’s programme, there was a report from Obama’s ancestors home village in Kenya. They were celebrating wildly to have their “own” American president. But Kenyans are not the only ones claiming Obama as their own son. Indonesians also think him as theirs: Obama spend four years of his childhood in an elementary school in Jakarta. He also has Indonesian step sister and more than 50 Indonesian step cousins. Indonesians happily remark that Obama is the first ever American president who has fallen out of a mango tree!

So the whole Indonesia is now suffering from Obamania. If there was plenty of knick-knack obamabilia street sellers in Washington, so there was in Jakarta: t-shirts, hats, mugs, fridge magnets and patches with his picture, DVDs, even an Obama action hero figure! And if that was not enough, it is now a trend to name new-born sons as Obama, Barry or Obambang (the former favourite of Indonesian boy names was Ryan or Rian after the Manchester United football player Ryan Giggs – don’t ask me why HE was the football hero in there, I don’t know).

Obamania, of course, is a world wide phenomena at the moment. For many, more important than mango trees are the fact that he has first-hand experience of racism through his family and more still, he has woken up on a prayer call from a minaret as a child, even if he is Christian.

“We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.”

He has managed to unite not only the Americans but also the globe. It is incredible how he has turned people to put their hopes to one man. Obviously the mankind is waiting for a new Messiah to follow, and Obama is an answer for prayers of many. He is truly the President of the World. But he certainly has now an enormous, gigantic task ahead. a loads of promises, and I hope they won’t be empty talk.

“To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”

While watching the speech with fellow travelers, I have to confess I was holding back tears. And judging by the faces of others around me, they felt the same. It felt like an important moment of history, and a turning point. Economic crisis, climate change, wars and injustice. He truly needs to be an action hero to battle with all of these. And also he has a great task ahead to ensure the Arab world of his intentions. Muslims are still cautious and wait for his responses to his promises.

“–our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.”

I am also waiting. He has promised a lot, and we will see if he has strength, wisdom and, first and foremost, will to act. When Britain’s Tony Blair was elected, there was huge expectations. He didn’t fulfill them but failed miserably and was the second hated politician in the world after George W.

It is obviously a bit naive to think that one man could bring a huge difference, but it is heart-breaking to see the hopes of the people from Jakarta to Jenin, from Kathmandu to Kinshasa. I wish -  no, I pray -  that Obama can fulfill at least a part of the promises. It would be too harsh if he fails badly in the hands of powerful lobbers of US industry and conservative right wing religious idiots. I think people would loose the last of their hopes for better then.

So what lies ahead then? Astrologers and fortune-tellers have answers already. Born in Aug. 4 1961 Obama’s star sign is Leo, which is a symbol of power itself. According to an Indian astrologer, his numbers are 2 (from Jan 20), 4 (from his birthday) and 8 (from 4+4, the 44th president of USA), which signify as leadership, happiness and success, and that he is also born under the stars of common sense, pragmatism, and also extraordinary communication abilities and charisma. Well, that all we know already.

A Chinese numerologist also calms down those who feel anxious of 44th president. In Cantonese, the numbers 44 are phonetically similar to words ‘die die’. However, numerologist Weng Shi Ming says that Obamas unique year of birth makes him immune to the effects of 44. He has been born in a symmetrical year, an “upside-down” year which is the same if you rotate it upside down. 1961 was the last of this kind of years until 6009… Obama also takes power now when the Chinese new year is on the hand, and the coming year is the year of ox. Ming says this is no coincidence, since ox points to a person who is a born leader.
- So, coming to power this year is definitely a good year to Obama, says Ming according to a Malaysian daily New Straits Times.

Hope so.  Meanwhile, lets grow more mango trees. Who knows what significance them have for the future politicians…

Maiku
(All quotations from Barack Obama’s Inauguration Address, according to The New York Times)

PS. I lke the fact that even if Obama is a charismatic leader, he is so obviously a human, too. He makes mistakes, and he also adores his beautiful wife and daughters. There was this funny little anecdote about his daugther Malia, 10, in the newspapers: she put more pressure to him to have a good speech. – It better be good, she said to daddy.  And what he does? The first thing after the speech, he turned to Malia: “Was it good?” It shows clearly in the TV. I don’t know what she replied but if I answer for her, it would be “yes daddy, it was good”.