Mohamamd Ali  Sattar

So President Barack Hossain Obama says good bye to the White house and the people of America as the president. He was in tears when he spoke to his Chicago fellows. There is always a string of emotion attached with one’s life, ones work and the surrounding that he develops. The family and peers he builds over the time. When Obama stepped into the White House – the hottest seat in the world – he was a young confident man ready to take the challenges of the world and time.

He had lots at stake. Being a history maker – the first colored president in the white house, also a Muslim tag with his name and ties with distant lands- made him an interesting target at whom the world looked with great deal of excitement keeping fingers crossed.

Soon after he came to be the president, (remember his hardest fight was to get the nomination from his Democrat party, for Hillary was a ruthless candidate desperate to get to the White House) the world started a different calculation.

First the Muslim world had high hopes that problems related to Palestine cause, Iran relations, ME policy and every other areas related to Islamic involvement – from politics to investment to war- all will receive a significant support from Obama. Not really. Nothing big happened. But things did not get worse either. For Obama was not an aggressive and war monger. There was the stark difference between his predecessor and him.

He rather brought in some reform proposals with which he had to face stiff opposition in Congress. Especially his health care bill. This now is known by ‘obamacare’.

He was not lenient with Israel, although he did not force anything on Netanyahu. Still he opposed idea of Israel settlement plans and fencing. He got rid of the concept of separate prison cell for overseas prisoners and ordered the closure of Guantanamo.

That he was a qualified and cultivated man was known by his decent postures, articulate speech and since of humor and humility.

H did give Americans a different line of thoughts on economy, politics and administration.  Definitely it was far from the past. It was less aggressive, friendlier.

He, by his actions, let the world know that it’s also time for America to change track and pursue a policy of humility and be positive.

Donald Trump won’t have easy time in White House, I am sure, because Americans will want something better than Obama.

The writer is a columnist, development consultant and biographer. Email: [email protected]