Land of opportunity

From our little corner of the world we are impressed once again by the things that make America great: its solid democratic institutions, its ability to pull itself from the precipice and renew the values that have made liberty its national symbol.

Barack Obama benefited from gifts of fate: a financial crisis whose resolution was seen as his rival’s weak point, and public sentiment, shared by much of the rest of the globe, against the arrogance of power in the Bush administration.

Some analysts are still pondering whether the Democratic candidate’s victory was not so much a vote for Obama or against the Republicans’ John McCain but against George W. Bush.

In his second term, Bush had come to symbolize everything that was wrong with the world’s lone superpower. Buoyed by his re-election, Bush squandered the global sympathy and goodwill that the 9/11 terrorist attacks generated for the United States. America under his watch swaggered around the planet, breaking its own rules and betraying its own most cherished values of freedom.

Only much later did Bush seem to realize that his means were undermining his avowed cause of letting freedom ring. Under his watch doubts intensified about the fitness of democracy for certain cultures. If the world’s bastion of democracy was behaving in such an obnoxious way, why follow in its footsteps?

When the full impact of the financial crisis shook the world, people looking to point the finger of blame inevitably focused on the irresponsible, unbridled capitalism that was encouraged by the policies of the Bush administration.

The rest of the world, led by the Europeans, seemed poised to take over leadership of the global financial system as they called for transparency, regulation, and the responsible deployment of capital to promote economic growth.

Just as the sun eventually set on the British empire, there was talk about the twilight of the American century, about the rise of the rest.

You could feel American angst even in pop culture. Comic book characters Batman and Spiderman were burdened by their roles as saviors of their cities, and there were animated movies of angst-riddled superheroes who were unsure of their role as saviors of the planet. Every American superhero, it seemed, just wanted to get his or her life back – a reflection of the average American’s seeming fatigue of the US role as the world’s supercop.

Now suddenly, just as we thought America’s light was dimming, along comes Barack Obama.

* * *

At this time last year attention was focused on Sen. Hillary Clinton, the person who would have become America’s first woman president.

Until a few months ago John McCain seemed like a formidable candidate, with his story of courage, honor, and dedicated service to his nation. When the man says he loves his country, there is no doubt that he is telling the truth.

Obama has an equally compelling life story, and he was pictured by his supporters as a symbol of everything that was good about America. But the same could be said of McCain, except for his membership in the party of George W. Bush, and his failure to completely extricate himself from association with the incumbent.

America had wondered whether it was ready for a female president. When Clinton lost the nomination, there were many who thought America was not yet ready for its first black president – even one who is actually half-white and raised in a white household.

Until a few weeks ago the surveys put the contenders in a neck and neck race. Then the full force of the financial crisis hit America, and Sarah Palin ambled into the scene, spooking voters with the prospect that she might take over from a cancer-stricken McCain.

* * *

There was, of course, Obama himself, better at the debates with his rival, staying on message and hammering on his campaign’s simple theme: change.

Americans wanted to get rid of Bush, and they picked his opposite: young, black, critical of his economic and foreign policies, ready to mend fences with the world.

In their vote Americans have shown the world that their country is truly a land of opportunity and possibilities, where anyone can achieve his highest aspirations if he works hard enough and does not break the law. Black Americans are rejoicing – and for good reason.

In their vote against the administration’s candidate, Americans have also shown that they will not stand for the betrayal of their own ideals, that they want no more Abu Ghraibs or an invasion of another sovereign state. You can hate the Bush administration, but not the multitudes in America who are always ready to stand up for human rights, liberty, and the right to the pursuit of happiness.

People in our dysfunctional democracy are just as envious of the American electoral system. In a functioning democracy there is no poll-related violence, no vote manipulation, no complaints of cheating, and the vote results are known within a day. The electorate closely scrutinizes each candidate on issues. No candidate sings or dances or turns into a clown on stage.

Then there is John McCain’s admirable grace in the face of defeat. He is rallying his supporters behind their nation’s new leader, aware of the hardships ahead. Will we ever hear that kind of heartfelt concession speech, given so quickly?

Obama, in his historic win, faces historic challenges: the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, two wars and an enemy that plays by no rules, a trillion-dollar deficit, climate change, and widespread resentment against American hegemony.

Yesterday Wall Street and Asian stock markets, initially buoyed by election euphoria, had a reality check and settled back to earth. The road to financial recovery is going to be tortuous.

Barack Obama may yet continue many of the policies of the Bush administration. He could commit blunders along the way. But for now he — and America — can bask in the admiration of the world, for yet another example of a vibrant democracy in action.