The Editor, Sir:

Yesterday was Inauguration Day in the United States of America (USA). History was made when Barack Obama, a black man, was sworn in as the 44th president of the USA. Although I share in the joy of the significance of this moment, I am a bit wary. I genuinely believe that the hand of God was at work in what has happened in the USA over the last few years (beginning with the decision to make a little-known black senator speak at the Democratic convention). But I am a realist. I believe that although 'God nah sleep', the devil does not sleep either!

Powerful ally

I believe that if Obama carries through with what he has been sent to do, the world will be a different place. We will withdraw from the brink of global warfare; there will be a significant decrease in the rate at which the degradation of the environment takes place; global agencies whose aim is, through cooperation, to improve the lot of humanity will find a powerful ally; those who exploit the poor of the world will find this a bit more difficult; people and organisations who have struggled to throw a lifeline to those sufferers of curable diseases in the poorer parts of the US and the world might be able to find a ray of hope.

This, I believe, is God's wish. It is how He intervenes in our lives at crucial moments, by giving us a chance to 'fix' things ourselves.

So what does His opponent, the tempter, do?

He tries to make us see things differently, to make less what God has done for us.

In this case, a branch of his modus operandi seems to be to try to convince everyone that Obama's election was simply a backlash against George Bush - the war and the bad economic policies (and, truly, to some it was). But I believe that this election brings forward a number of possibilities that are much greater.

We might have a president who is first and foremost the servant of the man in the street and not, as we hear repeated so often, first and foremost the commander-in chief! The implication is, a leader of a country at peace, or actively seeking peace, and not at war, or actively seeking war.

Guiding principles

An America who is guided by the song America the Beautiful (note how often it is being sung at Obama functions) and not by the war song Home of the Brave - which speaks of the flag flying during a bloody campaign in a war.

The most powerful country in the world being guided by principles of fairplay, sympathy and respect for others.

If these are real possibilities, he who foments war, hatred, mistrust, exploitation, death and destruction must be working overtime to ensure that these possibilities, these hopes, are not fulfilled.

So I believe that people of like mind as I should join the celebrations at the possibilities, not at the achievement; join in the prayers, not in the euphoria.

I am, etc.,

KEITH NOEL

keithanoel@gmail.com