Obama: Popularism versus Reality

From the north to the south; the east to the west, his name was like sunshine and water. Desirable to everyone. He's celebrated, a political supernova. He's in the charitable expression of everyone, so much that I thought he was just too popular.

I celebrated Mr. Obama along with most people, but not like most people. Sure, Obama was my candidate; and he was also coming close to being my political Mahatma.

But whenever I asked: "For what is Mr. Obama popular to you?", I do not usually get realistic responses. This global Obamaism is largely a product of primordial sentiments. Good. Unconditional acceptance. But this is just one of the two faces of the coin of unconditionality. We need sentiments. But we need more than sentiments.

Some say he is the first black man to be president(-elect) in the USA. To me, this may have historical or sentimental appeal, but it is inconsequential in relation to practical realities of today. Obama's emergence may be a new dawn; it's certainly not a new day. The day had begun long before, only there was a sort of political eclipse, political sultriness from which the world was struggling to exit. Mr. Obama, an international man, became the embodiment of that exit.

This good thing is part of what I'm afraid of. Imperial capitalism often do not use popularity democratically; they seldom employ popularity for the populace. Will not greedy oil-oholics, petro'-lobbyists, bask in Obama's name and embezzle people's hope?

Although the world is now a neighbourhood, the psychologic links of common humanity between peoples have become rusty. A Marco Polo, Mungo Park, Columbus, Magellan et sequentia would less likely succeed today as he did centuries ago, even though vastly faster means of 'portation are at his disposal. Did the roads extend? No! It is the human beings along the roads who have become short (hostile). And this is what Mr. Obama is inheriting: a much less predictable international politics.

I like (love) Mr. Obama, nearly directly. But if Mr. Obama is not more careful, if he put popularity ahead of achievement, to fly on the wings of sentiments alone, his presidency will fail.

Extremely popular things often end in failure. Deutschland nazi-flagbearer, late Mr.Adolph Hitler, and the Duce of Italian fascism, Benito Mussolini, are historical examples. Although they were not democrats, they surely garnered unusual popularity before...
Very often humanity crucifies its heroes, and begins that crucifixion with super-popularity.
Besides, popularity inflates expectation.

I personally do not agree that Mr. Obama is inexperienced. He's new on the throne but not new in the world that is governed from the throne.

The need for prudence is here even before he accedes the Whitewashed House (Maison Blanche). Mr. Obama new it.