an impactful speech at the 2004 Democratic Party Convention. an arduous 2 years through the 2008 presidential elections. and, with much blessings from above, the world witnessed a Hawaiian-born nobody, whose father left the family when he was yet able to speak and whose mother passed away before he became a politician, turn into the Obaman, President of the U.S, on 20 Jan 2009 (albeit a few hours late, constitutionally, due to a verbal hiccup by Mr. Roberts).

there is more than just novelty about the Obama's presidency. first, he openly criticised Bush (who was just a few feet away) and was against the unpragmatic ideological zeal characterised by the predecessor's administration that culminated in a disastrous inheritance for America 2009. second, Obama fervently called for the dictators of the world, i.e. Iran and North Korea, to recognise that they are on "the wrong side of history," and offered them "a hand" to join the rights of democracy.

just that i do think ideology still has a very important place in politics. Obama may champion pragmatism, but it should be remembered that Winston Churchill was not pragmatic at all when he urged the RAF to defend the British shores against titan Germany; Sir Churchill had masterfully instilled his ideology of freedom and righteousness into his soldiers. and since then, the world's seen, and celebrated upon, the rise of ideologically-driven Asia's Vladimir Putin, and Junichiro Koizumi Australia's Kevin Rudd, Latin America's Hugo Chavez and Michelle Bachelet, Africa's Morgan Tsvangirai or the Middle East's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Bush might have had really bad judgements, but i still very much admire the man for his ideological conviction and for making the difficult decisions that faced him. no i don't think it's a lie when Bush said he had made those choices because he believed they were in the best interests of America. Bush may have the lowest post-office approval rating among the Presidents, but Jenna and Barbara totally love him, and they know who their father truly is. and elsewhere, Africa will miss Bush, and the Middle East will need the like of Bush's two-state solution for the Palestinians.

and Mr. Obama, please also remember that Iran and North Korea are not exactly part of the "axis of evil." how could Iran be more evil than the U.S. when the democratically elected Shah was overthrown with American hands, which then installed a puppet government that ruled Iran until the hostage crisis? and as for North Korea, what evil things could they ever do to the U.S., or any body for the matter, when there is not even enough power to even light Pyongyang? the U.S. simply does not like and cannot tolerate anyone who defies them, since that will create a very harmful precedent for others, particularly in the current backdrop of revived nationalism.

well yes, Obama does not belong to the elite Washington class. he was not born into the job. he's earned it. but perhaps as he is offering change to America and a helping hands to the people of the world, he could be mindful of history so as to clearly see the present and better touch the future.