Obama in the Eye of the Student
In the process of filling hearts around the world with hope he managed to generate such idolism as not seen in a very long time.
Photo: jetheriot
Before last year’s election the word ‘United’ appeared as a sad parody of the reality of the world’s largest and most influential country. Signifying a strong, merciful and wise sanctuary, this single word left a raw wound where selfish acts of commerce and misplaced imperialism prevailed.
Yet now America appears rejuvenated – the Republicans have gone into what some may call ‘hiding’, perhaps waiting for the moment when President Obama stumbles. Record numbers turned out to put this man in power and now his country turns to him, more hopeful than ever before that their problems will be fixed, their injustices righted.
Out of these record numbers, students – notoriously passionate and unpredictable – have been surmised as the section of society that most helped with placing Obama in the Presidential seat as well as elevating him to a hero worshipped pedestal among the younger generations.
In John Christian Hoyle’s article Obama’s impact on ‘Generation We’, he regards students as remaining optimistic and hopeful in the United States and stated, “They (students) want to change the perception that America is an arrogant and greedy nation”.
He also indicates that President Obama only came to be President Obama through the efforts and contribution of young people. “They sent text messages, blogged, instant messaged, posted YouTube videos, designed Obama iPhone applications, and mobilised online support for the man who represents two things that young people thrive on: hope and change.”
These ideas of a brighter and more progressive future are not only exemplified in America, but across the globe students and young people everywhere are becoming more enthused and energetic when discussing possibilities, more hopeful about global conflicts.
Here in Australia it’s just as visible; students at Sydney University were photographed by Jeremy Piper and featured on the ABC online news on January 21, 2009, posing with a cardboard cut out of Obama, demonstrating not only the strength of their belief in this man, but their willingness to openly align themselves with his cause.
Although this may be too broad a conclusion, as with every subculture there are contravening ideas, not necessarily out of line, just healthy oppositions.
Canberra University student Alistair Newman developed an interesting point of view. When referring to Obama he said, “In my eyes he’s just another guy who wanted power and got it”.
Yet the power of Obama as a leader was credited when Newman was asked if Obama affected the idea of the US as a country. “It can make the US seem more progressive, not just because he’s black, but also because his stance is more diplomatic and accepting than Bush’s threat of force, for example what he did with Iran recently,” Newman said.
President Obama has indeed been another one of those men recorded in the history books as obtaining the most powerfully regarded position in the world, yet he will be judged by how he uses this power, not only be the proper channel, yet also by the millions of students across the world waiting to see if their faith was misplaced.
In the word’s of Ashley Harper, a Queensland Arts student, “[Obama] has changed the way I look at people and societies; he’s not just pushing forward, but helping to heal the past”.
While he may be an American, it would appear that President Obama has made more of an impact on Australian students and their ideas than our own Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has managed to achieve to this date.