I was privileged to observe an important chapter in American history in 1978 when Major-General Fred Sheffey was appointed to Command the United States Army Base at Fort Lee in Virginia. The base was named after General Robert E. Lee; the Civil War General who led the Confederate army against President Lincoln’s bid to abolish slavery. I was an exchange officer with the Airborne Department at Fort Lee and recall General Sheffey’s opening remarks when he said ‘I think General Lee would turn in his grave at the thought of a black General assuming command of a Fort bearing his name in his native state of Virginia’.
Sheffey’s remarks, though light-hearted, reminded us of the irony of his selection. He was not appointed because he was black. He was selected because he was the best man for the job. He was an inspirational leader and a great man. His appointment symbolised America’s willingness for change.
Barack Obama’s election as the first black President of the United States has completed the process that began with Lincoln’s victory in the civil war in 1865, was galvanised when Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Georgia in 1955, and culminated in the this weeks election of the first black President in the history of the most powerful nation in the world.
The Democrats were always going to make history with this election. It was a choice between the first woman or the first black man to be elected to the nation’s highest office. Their choice of Barack Obama was the right one. His historic victory speech will take its rightful place in history. It was one of the great orations. He has given hope to a nation wearied by its fight against terrorism and fearful of the impending world recession.
He also gave hope to the ideal of the American dream.
The great challenge for Obama and his new administration is to meet the expectations they have created during their campaign for office. He raised the bar to what many believe to be an unattainable level. He will be judged by the number of times he clears it with his initiatives for the changes he promised.
Obama’s domestic and international policies received little scrutiny from a fawning media infatuated by his charm and what he represented. Australia will wait with baited breath to learn of his attitudes towards trade, the ANZUS Treaty, the war against terror and the world economy. We know little of what he stands for in these areas that are important to us but in the meantime we should applaud the symbolic significance of his great victory and salute both Obama and our great ally, America.
Tags: Democrats, International Affairs, Obama
