OBAMA´S LEGACY AND THE TIMES AHEAD
Year 2017 begins holding its breath. Expectation frames the scene as in the most influential nation on Earth eight years of a democratic rule come to an end while, in a strange turn, a Democrat candidate wins popular vote by three millions but yet it is the opponent who gets to rule, a situation that places a question mark on democracy itself in America and, by extension, in the World. Because the United States of America are so influential, it would be wise to review the impact some steps taken by the administration leaving stage had in the World at large. Regardless of likes or dislikes for Barack Obama, peoples all around very well sensed a change of the script in the American presidency.
The first issue of World impact has to do with the Survival of the Planet for it was only when Barack Obama stepped forward and met Chinese Presidente Xi Jinping in a joint effort towards sustainability that the compass of the planet shifted. It is not that nobody was working the issue before. The United Nations had been working tireless for years, some of the European Union nations were already heading that way, and religious leaders where using their voice to promote awareness - Pope Francis Laudeato Si -, but back to that point neither the United States nor China had even signed the Kyoto agreement on climate. The moment the two greatest polluters jumped into the climate change fight train, a World frame was born and Paris COP 21 became a reality. Each President had a different screen to face. Xi JinpIng has 1.5 billions to care for, so they decided to turn the entire system towards a clean life, a slow, difficult but determined move that will benefit both their nation and the World. Obama, on the contrary, had to deal with the fierce opposition of "dirty" industries guarded by a Congress that built a wall against him. Nevertheless, he took domestic measures of good impact and used his voice and presence to lead a world position for the protection of the planet. COP 21 happened to be Earth saving turning point.
The second issue of World impact has to do with Global Cooperation because, as it happens, all Humanity lives in a single globe. Although the appearance of an unknown, unclear, ideologically dark movement built by highly paid mercenaries from all around the world - ISIS - has pushed the situation to the present state, it is a fact that Obama´s administration handling of the chemical weapons in Syria did change the traditional script. Instead of launching a war, the regular script of American presidencies - a hundred wars in two hundred years -, he managed to build a World team to stand against a cruel weapon, and to move the United Nations to its designed use. That crisis showed that cooperation and diplomacy are tools to pull success through, and that Humanity as a community can stand strong and peaceful against evil.
The third issue of World impact has to do with Civilization, the only state of life that guarantees Humanity´s lasting well being. Obama´s way of dealing with China, Iran and Cuba proved that ideological differences can be handled in a civilized way. Only the powerful can choose not to unfold the sword and yet stand his ground. Obama´s handling with opposite ideologies showed respect for the right of all peoples to be their own way, set limits, saved blood and money to his nation, and kept World peace.
Perhaps there is another aspect of the Obama Administration that has nothing to do with his own doing but with the fact that the son of a man born in Kenya did reach the first post on Earth. Obama´s presidency also represented a long historic walk from slavery to leadership granting a victory to the African spirit, a spirit that was historically dragged into hell but that, nevertheless, found the way to World leadership through Reconciliation.
A decent vision that cared for and respected people while promoting the growth of his own was Barack Obama´s call and the World heard it, it was a different American presidency and peoples of the World liked it. Although his own Media never fully showed it, he was truly greeted in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America. Never before in recent times had an American President set such a worldwide good image. It was a vision carrying a different script that touched Earth most vital interests: the planet, the only home, cared for; cooperation among the ruling race that inhabits it; civilization as a peaceful understanding of factual diversity; and the outstanding strength of the Human spirit. Barack Obama, this black and white American President, leaves now his post with a report of Nation and World that moved forward on his watch.
As for the Americans, they do have a choice: work to make a few Earth people wealthier while endangering the planet, or join the present world trend creatively. The European Union is getting outstanding results in job creation, tax evasion, people qualification and climate change; China is turning clean, widening its rural people capacity and educating the 1.5 billions; Asia has already created a region for cooperation in all social and financial issues; Africa is finding a unified voice; and Latin America moves towards a centered political rule than engages all peoples. The choice American People make will define American history because life moves only forwards. The path may be delayed or diverted never halted. This is a World that turns. The openly stated vision of the elected American government, should it be applied, will not set a new order of the World but the beginning of America´s decay in the World Order. Earth People must read the times well. Because this time, Earth People, the required task has nothing to do with business, money, power or luxury. As simple as it sounds, this time the planet is saved or nobody is. To save it, Humanity must grow together, healthy, clean and in peace, that is year 2017 compass: Humanity must re-define "progress", view and review the path already opened, a path that is to be remembered in the years to come, and decide whether they shrink or grow. The Future is NOW. / Sylvia Davila MM, EarthPipol, Jan 6, 2017.
