Reflections on the Inauguration of President Obama
By Shahid Athar, MD
Indianapolis, IN
While rounding on hospitalized patients on a busy day, I, an immigrant physician and now a US citizen for 30 years, stopped by the physician's lounge to watch the inspiring moments of history - the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of my beloved adopted country.
I could not work for his election but I did pray for him and stood in the rain for an hour to vote for him. President Obama inspires all of us and gave us hope to live by. Finally, the US has a president who is loved all over the world, shared by all nations and faiths. Indeed, he is not only the US president but in reality, he is the world's president. All over the world, people are now waving American flags and not burning it. He is our best ambassador and hope for our country and the world in these difficult times.
President Obama and his team have difficult challenges ahead. After raising everyone's expectations, he must not let them down. He must use our hard earned tax dollars wisely for the good of the people. His message to Third World leaders, "You will be judged by your people by what you build not by what you destroy" also applies to him. No matter how tempting that may be, he should not start another war nor support any dictatorial regimes which oppress their own people or threaten their neighbors by weapons sold to them by the US. An American President whose first name means "blessing" and the middle "beauty" has united his nation, black and white, young and old, Democrat and Republican, North and South , now hopefully will unite the nations of the world and people of faiths for a common cause.
For those of us who supported him in this journey and applauded his victory, must not forget our own role and responsibility in living up to his expectations. A president cannot do much without the help of his people and sincere advisors. "God does not change the condition of people unless they strive to change their own state." I hope the Muslim world will appreciate the olive branch extended to them and have their own acts together in fighting the modern plague of terrorism and world hunger. I congratulate President Obama and Vice-President Biden and thank them for accepting to be our new leaders. God Bless America and God Bless the World.
