Disclaimer: Somewhere on this blog are multiple grammatical mistakes, spelling errors and obscure Star Wars references.

Friday, January 23, 2009

A Letter to President Barack Obama


(I realize this may be a really stupid idea, but I'm gonna do it anyway so shoot me.)

Dear Mr. President,

I initially wanted this letter to be a formal, welcoming sorta letter, for your new job at the White House and all that. But I think it's safe to say you've had enough of that already.

(Either way Congratulations dude!)


Errm, my name's Muhammed Ali J., and I'm a Muslim from India, born and bred in the Middle East, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I first heard about you in 2005 when you were elected into the Senate in Illinois. Surely the news of someone with 'Hussein,' becoming a US Senator was big news over here. Soon after that in 2007, when you announced that you were running for Democratic Nominee, ears perked all over this part of the world (Yours Truly's included). Since then I followed your whirlwind campaign that stretched two years and now you're sitting in the Oval Office. Whoo!

I had a whole bunch of ideas that I wanted to say. I was gonna quote big words stuff like, sacrifice, hope, leadership, divine redemption, so on and so forth. However, now that I'm here I guess it's eventually of no end and I might as well speak from the heart (and brain). President Obama, I don't need to tell you that there are a lot of expectations on your shoulders. You know it better than anyone else, and it's what you built your campaign to the top job on. You know that every citizen (Well maybe besides some of the Republicans. And Ralph Nader) is celebrating your every move and every critic is just sitting around waiting for you to slip up.

Here's hoping you never do, big guy! (Slip up, I mean....)

Now, forgive me for being ignorant but this letter isn't about the change that you promised your countrymen IN your country. This letter is about the rest of us. As the only superpower in the world, your actions in some way or another affect a lot of people, especially those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan, even Israel. Those and a lot of other countries, if not most. Mr. President for the past 8 years people in many countries have suffered ridiculous atrocities due to the selfish, ignorant and terribly biased actions of your predecessor. Sure your fellow citizens look at you with eyes full of expectations for jobs, tax cuts and whatnot. But just as every American looks to you with hope, the eyes and minds of every Iraqi, Afghani, Palestinian are maxxed out on optimism. Believe you me when I say that on the 4th of November 2008, the folk in this part of the world breathed a unanimous "OH THANK GOD." We're all rooting for you. Some more than others.

Mr. President there's nothing I can say now that you don't already know. And the big truth is you probably won't read this letter ever and it'll just be up on my blog collecting cyber dust. But if by some chance you happen to come across this, PLEASE know that the rest of the world really needs you to keep your promises. The people in Iraq, Afghanistan and both Palestine and Israel are all fed up with genocide. There's no pro-Palestinian side or pro-Israeli side to this anymore. Ask anyone what they want and you have my word, the top reply is, 'Peace.'

This letter is in it's essence a plea to please do what those who are suffering on all sides, expect you to do. You are now at the precipice of what will soon become your legacy. Soon you'll be taking that plunge, and we all hope you soar. Don't let us down. We need you to be everything you said you would.


Long story short: Please, don't screw up.


Sincerely,

Muhammed Ali J.

_

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Change.... I will drink (my glass of cranberry juice) to that!

Anonymous said...

Oh... and well written :D

I can't remember the last time I wrote a letter.... like addressed to someone specific... it must have been years! Even my job cover letters were emails!

Anonymous said...

Here's hoping that he reads it.*raises non alcoholic drink up*
I think Obama realises that the world counts on him to clean up Bush's mess.

Guess we just have to wait and see what the future holds.
:|

Joey said...

wait...and watch...is all we can do =)

The letter is not stupid. Honesty goes a long way. Intentions are Everything. His seem all good. But he is afterall, human.