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The “Obama idea”

Barack Obama isn’t just a politician or a president — he’s an idea. And that idea marks a major turning point for those of us in the western world. We all grew up with the idea that we can be anything we wanted to be. But as you continued to mature, there were still doubts at the very back of your mind. Aiming for the top is never easy.

Photo: Evan McIntyre

Election night in the United States of America was one of the most anticipated nights this year. All you had to do was turn on the TV or log onto Facebook or Twitter to join the hype. But this hype didn’t just appear on Election Day. You couldn’t escape it for most of this year. Daily lengthy and explicit Facebook arguments about Obama or Romney were the norm on your newsfeed. Opinionated conversations on who is a better candidate were just a part of another regular day. Even those who consider themselves “politically oblivious” had already chosen a candidate they fully supported and stood behind.
Obama isn’t just a politician or a president — he’s an idea. And that idea marks a major turning point for those of us in the western world. For example, his 2008 election changed the dynamic completely for anyone who belongs to a visible minority. We all grew up with the idea that we can be anything we wanted to be. It was plain and simple, and our parents couldn’t stress it enough. But as you continued to mature, there were still doubts at the very back of your mind. Aiming for the top is never easy, but it’s even harder when the ones up there have nothing in common with who you are.
But it’s not just about race.
This Barack Obama concept can resemble any obstacle (no matter how big or small) that we face in our lives. You don’t have to be campaigning to be the leader of the free world in order for it to take effect. It’s an idea of struggle and triumph. In a way, this idea can represent your own aspirations and dreams. Whether it’s a career you aim for down the road, or just something you hope to accomplish by the end of the week, this is just an idea to bring out the greatness that’s hidden deep down. Once you look past that barrier, one will see that it’s not about ‘we’ or ‘them’ it’s actually about you. The term ‘Yes We Can’ was a product of Barack Obama the individual, but if you apply the same analogy to Barack Obama the idea, the term now becomes ‘Yes You Can.’
And unlike the American president, this ‘Barack Obama Idea’ can indeed bridge gaps across as many borders as possible. And the good news is, you don’t need Obamacare to be covered by it.

By David J. Shuman

David is the current editor-in-chief of The Watch and writes on student issues and events. Find him on Twitter: @DavidJShuman

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