KYOTO — America appears to have been swept up in a feel-good moment. But as much as U.S. President-elect Barack Obama appeals to me as a public speaker and wordsmith, as much as I appreciate his candid, inclusive style as an antidote to everything redolent of President George W. Bush, as thrilled as I am for black Americans, who have proudly claimed the mulatto son of a Kansas mother and Kenyan father as one of their own — and by his precedent feel empowered by his victory — I don't think the feel-good moment has arrived, or if it has, it is cruelly illusory.
That Obama gives good speeches is a given, his acceptance speech stands as one of the best ever, good enough to rouse even jaded political commentators to goose bumps. Good enough to drive people to tears, not just Americans but even foreigners. I watched the acceptance speech with a classroom full of Japanese students and by the time the 16-minute speech had ended, a good number of students were crying.
"Wow. What did you think of that speech?" I asked. "I wish we had a leader like that," said one. "It's so powerful when he says 'Yes We Can'!" chimed another. "I am so moved, he is kind to everyone," said a third.