Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is a global phenomenon, which is not confined only to the United States but also to the whole world. I believe that if there was an international vote on Obama and John McCain the former would meritoriously win because not only is he the first American of African descent that would be in the White House, achieving the American dream of equality and equal opportunity, but also because he has political charisma rarely found in American leaders throughout history.
Therefore it is not surprising that most Egyptians support Obama and wish that he would win the upcoming US presidential race. I believe one reason for this support is not Obama’s Islamic, albeit indirect, roots which he always denies, but because Obama represents a new hope for millions of young men who dream of change.
Obama was very smart when he adopted the word “change as a slogan in his campaign because he knows that many Americans are tired of the current policies of incumbent President George Bush and they are now in dire need of change even if the direction is unknown.
The Egyptians are looking for an Egyptian version of Obama. They are looking for change after 27 years of President Mubarak’s rule. They are looking for hope that might be given by a person whose ideas, policies and orientations are different from Mubarak’s.
Perhaps one of the main categories that are looking for an Egyptian Obama are the youth who are growing in number every day. More than half the population is below the age of thirty and is suffering from poverty, unemployment and poor education.
These young people are looking for a new leadership that can inspire and incorporate them into real projects that will truly change their future for the better. This category has seen nothing from the current regime except mistakes and eccentricities.
These young people are looking for real change that could give them self-confidence, confidence in their society and in the political regime. They neither want empty slogans nor foolish policies, but rather a road map drawn up by a charismatic trustworthy person they can follow, whatever the price.
There is no significant difference between Egyptian and American youth in terms of interest in political activity or public action, which is usually weak. Young Americans, however, now seem very enthusiastic to participate in the upcoming elections and many of them are ready to follow in Obama’s footsteps in order to be able to achieve victory and make their dream of change come true.
American youth have begun to take interest in politics simply because they found someone like Obama who will understand them, address their dreams and treat them as men and women who have rights and duties.
Will our youth find an Egyptian “Obama that can realize their dreams? We can only hope that this would happen in the coming presidential election of 2011.
Khalil Al-Ananiis an expert on Political Islam and is a Patkin Visiting Fellow at the Saban Center at Brookings Institution. E-mail: [email protected].
