Democratic candidate Barack Obama has just been elected the 44th U.S. President. I just finished watching Obama deliver his acceptance speech. It was a speech that I think would be the subject of study and talk for years. It’s a speech that encapsulated what Americans really hope their government would do for them–unite them and rebuild their nation from the damages wrought by years of excesses.
Truly, that speech was more than presidential. It was the most ideal speech ever to be made by a U.S. president. Faced with crises and threats of monumental proportions, Barack Obama said the right things at the right time–change can only happen, if Americans unite behind government.
” Two hundred twenty one years ago,” says Obama, “…we Americans build this country, brick by brick with out callous hands….Let us build it again.”
For those words alone, Obama earned the respect and admiration of those who still doubt whether all those honey-coated words could really turn reality. For a brief moment, Americans felt hope, that, things would really turn from worst to something really good.
Hope is what Americans really need at this point. Hope that their lives would turn around.
As I was listening to Obama, I was thinking of our own situation. If Obama succeeds in uniting and shepherding his country towards economic relief, what about us? If America can produce such a fine young leader with the integrity and vision, why can’t we?
Maybe we’re looking in the wrong places. Maybe we are hoping for something which does’nt suit us. Nine years ago, we hoped that an economist could do a miracle and save us from a inept administration, only to be frustrated when the new government provided not leadership nor hope, but utter dismay and disillusionment.
We succeeded in launching two revolts, hoping that things would change, only to realize later that massing all those millions is not enough to put our house in order. Maybe popular revolts is not the way for us. Maybe we just need someone who’ll provide us the vision, the direction, and the map to do it. And maybe, just maybe what we need is someone who’ll distill all these disparate voices we hear from different groups among us and put it as one voice. One voice, One Agenda, One United nation.
Obama’s message is as clear as the summer’s day–hope and change rest in every American. It’s a message of hope, I think, not just for Americans, but also for Filipinos.
Those who hope for a better life under a better government–despair not. Evermore, Filipinos should hope that someone in the present generation would stand up and provide what we truly need–a rallying cry and a true leader who’ll put our house in order.
It's emotionally loaded Pat right? I also watched him and the conceding McCain embracing each other, while being crowded by cheering Americans.
ReplyDeleteCan we also have that here? Well, perhaps still not yet this time. with our system of election, where nobody loses but being cheated, where candidates would still find "ways" to reverse his/her lose. Still not yet this time. Wew!
As for the right leader like Obama in our case here, we've been discussing also with my egroup vis-a-vis ARMM. What traits should a Muslim leader have to save the number of Muslims with the present leadership crisis and corrupt, let alone ineffective governance, here in the South of the Philippines. I said:
"My initial qualifying traits for a Muslim leader are Iman and Taqwa, charisma and competency as well as wisdom and principle.
While Iman is belief in Allahu ta’ala, Taqwa or "the Islamic concept of "God-consciousness" or higher consciousness. Having taqwá allows a person to be constantly aware of both God's all-encompassing knowledge and attributes and a reminder of their relationship and responsibility to God as His creation and servant. The scholars explain that the way to taqwá is through obedience of God, avoiding disobedience, and striving to stay away from doubtful matters. It is awareness of God as one moves through life." (wikipedia) As such, it is taqwa that makes Iman firm and unshakable.
By that when a leader is full of taqwa, i.e. being aware all the time that Allahu ta'ala always sees whatever he does; that he is judged according to his intentions and actions, he is also aware of the rightful responsibility towards his constituency; and, that violation of anyone's right will constitute retribution from Alllahu ta'ala in the hereafter, likewise the smooth facilitation of the other's rights entails him rewards in the life after death. When this is attained, there shall be no more room for corruption in his heart. He honestly manages the public affairs the way he religiously administers his, say, Fasting from dusk to dawn though no one is watching over him. He hates denying the rights of any of his constituencies as much as he hates being denied of the Jannah; He loves serving and earning the approval of his constituencies as he loves being pleased and approved by Allahu ta’ala.
Charisma is a personality trait that makes a leader being liked by others. Many were liked by his followers not because of his qualification . Meanwhile, competency would include every competency and skill required of leadership. That is, even, say, a clerk is required of the knowledge and proficiency to perform or discharge expected tasks required of the said post. What more when it pertains to presidency?
Wisdom is very much different from knowledge. Everybody has got knowledge but would essentially remiss in wisdom to have an exact understanding and proper use of such knowledge. While knowledge is obtained through informal or formal instructional experience, wisdom is attained through “enlightenment.” Wisdom is best acquired and sustained by Iman and taqwa. Example, it is a query why ice floats on the water? The molecules of water when get frozen becomes lighter, therefore it floats on water, is the ready answer of (Secular) knowledge. But what is the wisdom behind why ice floats when it gets frozen? In Islam, every creation has wisdom behind it. That is, say, the giant icebergs; there are also living organisms beneath them in the ocean which is not accustomed to frozen and very cold life. That’s why Allahu ta’ala created ice to float on the water.
We know about principle. A Muslim leader must have a staunch principle he believes as rightful and just and would stand by to fight for it even in the face of a roaring thunder. By that he inspires his followers to do the same. Wag yung mas nauuna pang tumatakbo sa kanyang mga “bata-bata.” Or, by mere promise or cajolery of worldly opportunity, he leaves what he is fighting for, leaving behind his followers."
Another thing that Obama told in his "The Audacity of Hope," is "authenticity" that a leader should have i.e. "of being who you say you are, of possessing a truthfulness that goes beyond words."
Hi Danilo,
ReplyDeleteYup, it was a speech that "could move mountains".
I appreciate your dawah, my friend. That is the right way to go on explaining who the Bangsamoro is, and what kind of leaders Islam envisions to have.
Keep it up!
warm regards,
Pat