Voices from Lebanon: On President-Elect Barack Obama

As the excitement of November 4 wears off and reality sets in, Voices without Votes will continue to follow reactions from around the globe. Today, however, Lebanese bloggers are still buzzing over the election of new President-Elect Barack Obama. While some are excited to see Obama take office, others are apprehensive.

Land and People, in a post entitled "Yes, he can!" expresses his trepidation over Obama's election:

Liberals all over the world are celebrating the election of Barak Obama. I will not add to all that has been said or published, but my take on this is that he is the President of the United States, and not Barak Obama. That said, I would really like to hope for change. After all, Obama showed that change was possible: he himself changed from a supporter of Palestinian rights into a man who believes that Jerusalem is the historic capital of Israel. He also changed during his campaign from: "no Iraq war for me please, I'm trying to quit" into: "all right I'll have some, but a tiny piece please".

People in the Middle East are expecting to see Obama act differently from previous US president because he is darker skinned. Time will show again that the color of the skin has little to do with politics, democracy and equity. Just look at the Arab World with its home grown dictatorships.

The blogger received a number of reactions to his post. One commenter suggests we give Obama the benefit of the doubt:

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. It was a tough road to get him elected, and the biggest chunk of his campaign money came from people like me and every one else who donated in the $25 and $50. This is a lot of people and they will hold him as accountable as the corporations. This is a man who believes in and respects the US constitution. He believe in grassroots organizing and the power of the people. I did have tears. How could I not? I know more BO than I ever knew who and what our Lebanese president stands for! I cried because I got to experience real democracy and citizenship more than I ever could in Lebanon. I cried because every American child can dream of "if I were a president", but not so for every Lebanese child. What do you say to you children? that you can have a dream because you don't belong to the correct religion?

Change and justice for the ME is not going to happen overnight, and not within few decades. It takes baby steps.

Farfahinne, a self-declared "socialist from Lebanon," believes it's up to Americans to seize the opportunity for change. The blogger writes:

There will be many battles ahead as the expectations on Obama run into the limitations of the Democratic Party. The central question for the left in the US will be whether they can relate to the enormous hope that Obama's election has generated among ordinary people.
The left has be part of building grassroots campaigns that can force Obama to deliver, but also build up forces in opposition to the pro-capitalist policies of both major US parties.
Obama's election has opened up a space for the left, the working class, the anti-war movement, black people and others to push their own agendas. They have to seize this opportunity.

Lebanese Chess is happy about the election results, but also apprehensive about Obama's foreign policy:

Obama has vowed to reform the health system, vowed to be strict on Wall Street behaviour, vowed to tackle climate change.

However, what should we expect on foreign policy? Obama will no doubt return to the multi-lateral stage, consulting European allies on major decisions, and re-invest into the United Nations process.

Obama wants to talk to Russia, instead of chide it. Obama wants to talk to Syria and Iran, instead of waving a stick. Obama wants to invest in Afghanistan's economy, and he wants to commence an exit strategy from Iraq.

But will he be able to fulfil his desires?

The blogger also tackles the elephant in the room, questioning what Obama will do about AIPAC:

It is certain that in order to pursue a moderate foreign policy that mirrors US national interests, Barack Obama will have to do the unthinkable for an American president ... take on AIPAC.

Jeha's Nail congratulates Obama and the American people, then leaves us with this message of caution:

In the United States, Provided he applies to the white house the same shrewd determination that he used to rise to the top, the United States will fare rather well. However, will he succumb to hubris and believe his own rhetoric, the outlook will not be so rosy; messiahs and prophets do not always fare well, and quite a few are already shopping for a cross and nails.

And, for (n+m)th time, do not sell us out...

In the rest of the world, the outlook depends on their current alliance or opposition to the power of the American Imperium. They all expect either a saviour or a douche, but they will all get a shrewd president, intent on increasing his power and therefore that of his country.

So, as reality sets in, expect most election promises to be broken, and if the style changes, do not expect the actions to be dramatically altered.

They voted for a messiah, and got a mere 44th president.

Follow Jillian York on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jilliancyork

Comments

[dlo2]

Lebanon has been through a very rough road for many years. This is a beautiful country and the people have suffered immensely from being in the middle of the cacaphony of contending factions, nations, groups and religions. They have also dealt with an intense civil war that wracked the peaceful beauty of this coastal country. US policy has a direct effect on Lebanon and it's neighbors and they have every reason to yearn for a highly insightful American president who will create policy that will increase stability that has been so fragile during these last 8 years. I know that Barack, as no one else since Clinton, will heed the lessons from history and begin to initiate a sober policy that creates a balance of power in the region, mindful of what has come to pass through modern history. Barack has some of the best minds with the some of the highest caliber experience of any American. However, we still have in Congress vestigial tails of neoconservative parochialism among many Republicans: a group that has historically created myopic policy and/or political negligence of issues that are very critical to societal and political stability in this area. Our support of Barack is complete and enduring.

[tysoph]

The mid-east and Lebanon, from their culture and perspective have reason to doubt.

Time, with Obama's leadership will give them a new perspective and more confidence.

They, as well as most of us, have heard the rhetoric for so many years and the cynic is us need time to know that this time is different, a real change.

We know in our hearts that it is, the habit is to be cautious. We will change our habitual thinking!

[Strywever]

Two things struck me about this:

1. People in other countries are SO MUCH MORE interested in and knowledgeable about American politics than we Americans are in their countries' politics. They give us something to aspire to.

2. Their view of us apparently (duh) is colored heavily by our own media's reporting, and results in some stereotyping - such as the impression that Americans "voted for a messiah." Personally, I didn't, and I think I have pretty realistic expectations of our President-Elect. They are that he will be truthful with the American people, he will keep the pressure on us to stay engaged in governing ourselves, he will surround himself with really smart people and listen carefully to them all, then make the decisions that he thinks are right for the country, he will put country before self, he will work hard toward accomplishing those things he has told us matter to him (and when he doesn't achieve them all, it won't be for lack of trying!) and he will continue to encourage all of us to work TOGETHER toward an optimistic yet realistic vision for our country's future.

I don't see "messiah" in that. But I do see a better America than we've known for quite some time.

[Godheval]

You put "realistic expectations of our President-elect" and "truthful with the American people" in the same sentence. On what experience do you base those expectations? When was the last time we had a president like that? When was the FIRST time? All U.S. politicians are practiced spinsters, half-truth givers, and downright liars. There has not been one exception. I realize that I am a cynic, but I do not think it is realistic to expect that Obama will be so much different just because he says so.

My optimistic side HOPES that he will be, but there is a big difference between "hope" and "expect".

[Godheval]

And frankly - especially as it applies to our friends in the Middle east - his appointment of an extremely pro-Israel AIPAC lobbyist as his chief of staff does not demonstrate a significant shift in Presidential politics. That concerns me.