Column:

Support the new leader

By Trevor Turner

Published Nov. 6, 2008

A new America has begun. The moment President-elect Barack Obama was announced the winner of the 2008 presidential election, a new America rose from the ashes of the long and brutal campaign. A new America has begun just like the new America of Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. How this new America will be defined, only time will tell, but it will be an America of unity and endless opportunity.

Now, as president, Obama has very tough road ahead of him. America has extremely high expectations of Barack Obama and he has promised us much. He has promised to tackle the economy, end the war in Iraq responsibly and make health care affordable and accessible to all. I believe he will deliver, but he has no room for error.

This election was an amazing and transformational journey for America. The process started early, almost two years ago, made history and stirred up passion right away. Many of us got emotionally involved and gave the campaigns our blood, sweat and tears. Regardless of whom we supported, we made the campaigns our own and showed what democracy was all about.

America has some hard work ahead and wounds to heal. The last eight years have been tough and divisive. The only exception was the few months after Sept. 11, 2001. It took a tragedy to unite Americans and to support our president. With that unity we were able to accomplish so much and realize that no matter our differences we were all American. However, that euphoria was short lived. Our president failed to support us and we failed to support him.

Barack Obama has already said he will be the president of all Americans and supports everyone, even if they didn't vote for him. It is imperative that we all support him and his administration. It is unpatriotic to wish him harm or failure because that is against this country.

I wish George W. Bush would have been the greatest president ever so that our country would be in better times now. Ronald Reagan is an example of a president I disagreed with, but I thought he was an amazing president. I did not support his policies, but Reagan united our country and made it the pillar of democracy and beacon of hope around the world. I believe that Barack Obama will do the same, but he will only be as strong as the support he has from the American citizens.

America is a democracy and you do not have to agree with the president. You will have the opportunity to choose a different president in four years. However, it is important that within those four years you support our leader so we can show strength and unity to the budding and potential democracies around the world that not only does democracy work, but it is greatest form of government ever.

A new day has come and America once again has redefined itself. Change is hard but I believe Americans will stand up for the challenge and that we will restore our standing in the world. With President Obama, America will continue to be the world's greatest democracy.

Trevor Turner is a member of the MU College Democrats. He can be reached at tturner@themaneater.com.