Democracy, Liberty, Opportunity, Unyielding Hope

As I said on Twitter soon after the result was called:

wow. a once in a lifetime day. the audacity of hope. let's pray all americans honour obama as their president.

I have since seen McCain's concession speech, and Obama's acceptance speech (which I had listened to on the radio driving home from work). Both are powerful pieces of political oratory. If only such poise and grace had been the flavour of the election contest itself. If only on the campaign trail the faith of the two contestants had been used to unite rather than to divide.

Make no mistake. Yesterday is an important day for our world. The world needs a strong America - strength in the sense Obama articulated last night:

Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

It is my prayer that Obama's presidency brings healing to their nation. Healing for their racist past, and healing from the divisiveness of the Bush years. And that this healing will flow into the international arena.

I don't know enough about Obama's policies to have a clear position on them. If I were an American voter I might focus more on that dimension to yesterday's election.

But for me the most important role of an American President is to inspire their country to a higher ideal - to better serve others, to better serve their community, and to better serve the wider world. The old idea 'noblesse oblige' - privilege must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege or who cannot perform such duty.

It is my hope and prayer that Obama's leadership and oratory like we saw last night brings this inspiration, and that America's moral authority as the remaining sole super-power is restored.

This Saturday we in New Zealand also get to vote. We face a similar choice between continuing a divisive regime, or passing the baton of leadership to a new generation. My prayer is that we do the latter. Our country also needs a fresh start in the face of challenging times.