Barack Obama’s Victory Speech

America, I take it all back. For once you have done a very good thing. The eyes of the world are looking towards you with hope. Well done on electing Barack Obama!

There was a nice tale told in the UK yesterday which was related to me by my better half, C. Apparently, a mother was explaining to her young children on the way to school that there had been an election in America and that a man called Barack Obama had won. One of the small children who had clearly been following the election asked, “Is he the young one or the old one?”. Isn’t it refreshing that they used something other than race or colour to differentiate between the candidates. Let’s hope that Barack can bring the world together as a place of colour-blindness…….but, he may have a tougher battle to eradicate ageism it would seem 😉

And, isn’t it interesting how everyone across the world is looking for a connection to the new President-elect. A national holiday has been declared in Kenya, birthplace of Barack’s father. While UK politician’s, Gordon Brown and David Cameron, argued yesterday about which of them was most like Barack.

Well, I think I have found another connection and an insight into Barack’s ethics, morals, and political philosophy. A connection back to the UK. Bob the Builder.

Barack’s victory speech was truly inspiring but one particular extract – when talking about the life of 106 year old Atlantan, Ann Nixon Cooper – was clearly borrowed from the great Children’s TV character:

“And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “we shall overcome”. Yes, we can.

A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.”

If he can truly build upon the innocence and colour-blindness of our children and the philosophy of Bob, then there really might be hope for us all!

In the meantime, please do hear Barack’s inspiring speech in full here.