The Triangle

Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Ed-Op

Media Credit: Chuck Kennedy MCT

Jan. 20, President Barack Obama declared that he will "execute the office" to which he was elected!

All joking aside, we have placed an astronomical amount of faith in this man who has changed the minds of even the most extreme Republicans - even me. It's interesting to overhear Americans discussing his plans for Guantanamo Bay, health care, taxes, terrorism, Muslim relations and most importantly bringing America back to being the number one colonial power in the world. But past all of our modern day struggles, I found it surprising yet clever that Obama did not mention being the first black president in his speech; he was addressing a nation of united citizens, although his identity is clear and very dear to us all.

Nevertheless, I'm glad we have a devoted president even amidst corrupt politicians in our country - such as Obama's home state governor, Rod Blagojevich, who some can say is remarkable for announcing on "The Early Show" that he was considering Oprah Winfrey to fill Obama's Senate seat. Hopefully, for the sake of our country, the apple falls very far from the tree. Americans are fed up with politicians and businessmen who seek personal gain over anything else. Look where that's brought us.

We shall remain positive with regard to Obama. So what has he done thus far? President Obama used his first day in office to get right to work, sending two messages "that echoed themes from his campaign: first, that he is intent on keeping his promises to run a clean and open government; and, second, that he understands the pain Americans are feeling as a result of the economic crisis," in the words of The New York Times' Sheryl Gay Stolberg. He used "his first full day in office to freeze the salaries of his senior aides, mandates new limits on lobbyists and demand that the government disclose more information."

Now, if Obama is keen on cleaning out the White House closets and unveiling much do knowledge, he will be praised by historians and reporters who will now have "access to records from the Bush administration that might otherwise have been kept under wraps" according to Stolberg.

A major advantage of Obama being president of America is how naturally he will be able to ease the conflicts with our acquaintances in the Middle East. Jan. 27 Obama had his first televised interview from the White House by Al-Arabiya, a cable network based in Dubai. He made clear the point that he is America's new face - completely dichotomous from our former President Bush. Obama said it was his job "to communicate to the Muslim world that the Americans are not your enemy," and we wish to restore "the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago." I praise what Obama is doing, because through Bush's failed efforts we have realized that the terrorists cannot be beaten through warfare alone, but rather with understanding and alliance.

Though Obama has performed well on his executive orders so far, there is a long list of "Remaining Problems in America" sitting on the desk of his new colossal mansion on Pennsylvania Avenue. He still has emissions on his mind. As well as somehow creating millions of new jobs, just as our biggest corporations are laying off more and more people every day. Our conflict in Afghanistan is worsening by day, and our youthful troops are still in Iraq! The man has a lot on his plate, and hard work and persistence will most undoubtedly increase the signs of aging on Obama's still young and amiable face.



Mihir Oza is a pre-junior majoring in business and finance. He can be reached at op-ed@thetriangle.org.

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