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Wildblood surprises herself and feels the hope of Barak Obama's new dawn

Could this be a new dawn?

Kate Wildblood

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Sorry but how good did that feel? Seeing Bush fly off into the distance knowing the fool we love to hate and yet so often fear is no longer in power did it for me. Big time. Bring on the Barack.

Like millions of others across the globe I sat transfixed by events in Washington on the 20th. O-baa-ma indeed. Thanks to the family, loved-up feel of those broadcasting the historic event, to the hobbling of ex-Presidents via the dash cut by Michelle’s dress (was it green? gold? lemongrass?), to the self-assurance of Barack’s daughters as they descended the steps to the inauguration platform I was hooked. Hope is a sensation I love and after what feels like months of doom-laden news it made a refreshing change. And as for Aretha Franklin’s hat – has the queen of soul ever made more an impression?

In fact the whole soundtrack made an impression. From the grace and yet underlying cheekiness of John William’s inauguration day composition to the class of the aforementioned Aretha's take on the US national anthem, I was struck by the what felt like the roots of America represented in music. Add Beyonce’s Presidential first dance performance of Etta James ‘At Last’ and I was welling up. With tears and with hope.

And as the President takes his place in the Oval Office we can only hope that faith will be repaid. His choice of conservative anti-gay marriage pastor Rick Warren to lead the day’s prayers does more than grate but if, as many commentators are claiming, it’s a temporary gift to the right wingers who couldn’t quite bring themselves to support Obama I’ll forgive him for now. Because there is much to be done and much to be fixed. For me I felt hope as he spoke of America’s treatment of the world outside its borders as he replaced the Bush rhetoric of a war on terror with respect.

"As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals... Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

And when I read his administration’s announcement on their first day in office that they are halting military trials at the Guantanamo detention camp - that hope strengthened.

I appreciate there are many false dreams in life and often hope is replaced with disappointment. That new dawn promised by Blair in May 1997 seemed to disappear so quickly, but if a black man can make it to the Whitehouse maybe a nation can change its direction and with that, the rest of the world's. Maybe. And so I’ll sit on the edge of my seat like I did on Barack’s inauguration day and watch the days ahead unfold. Clinging to a thing called hope and singing tunes of a new dawn in my head.