Obama will be an Unforgettable U.S. President in History

by Mika Iwasaki
(Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan)

Honestly, I had ambivalent feelings toward the U.S. before. But there is a different feeling now because of Barack Obama who is the first African-American President of the U.S. I think that Obama will be an unforgettable U.S. President in history.

Obama seems to be a miracle existence produced in American multiculturalism. He inherited both American liberalism among the WASP White culture and effects of the civil rights movement by African-American people.

Moreover, he was not buried in the racial problems of the U.S., because he has acquired a unique viewpoint in his growing up process in Indonesia, Hawaii, and so on.

As a result, he won support from both slum people and White rich people who wish changes.

A professor emeritus of Meiji University, Michio Ochi, says that Obama is like "Maitreya", a kind of Buddhist saint. It is said that Maitreya will appear after 5,670,000,000 years from Buddha's death, and will save all the people.

Prof. Ochi compares President Obama to Maitreya's appearance after long humankind struggles. I feel Ochi's expression is very interesting.

Eventually people in not only the U.S., but also African and Asian countries, are delighted with the birth of President Obama. They might have more hopes in their future than before.

I feel more hopes, too. And I am very interested in the U.S. now.