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President is First Person of Color to Govern Country With White Majority

By Stephen Kaufman

Washington - The flag-draped western face of the U.S. Capitol in Washington briefly became the focus of worldwide attention on January 20 as Barack Obama was sworn in as president and delivered his inaugural address, calling on Americans to meet the challenges that currently face them and telling the world that the American spirit "is stronger and cannot be broken."

The live telecasts and webcasts of President Obama's inauguration ceremony united audiences all over the world. At the same time, U.S. television networks brought Americans the public reactions from places such as the Indonesian school Obama attended for four years and his father's village in Kogelo, Kenya. (See "Barack Obama Becomes 44th President of the United States ( http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2009/January/20090120151307hmnietsua0.4407007.html&distid=ucs ).")

The former Illinois senator's rise to become the 44th president of the United States is a story that has inspired Americans and non-Americans alike.

Besides making his mark in U.S. history as the nation's first African-American president, Obama is now the first person of color to govern a country with a white majority.

That significance was felt strongly among many Africans, who take great pride in Obama's Kenyan ancestry. Celebrating his heritage, the new president invited three of his Kenyan relatives to join him for the Washington festivities.

"This is the first of its kind," a reader from South Africa told America.gov, adding "[I] am proud to be a black."

WORLD REACTS

Kenya was not the only country celebrating itself as a land of Obama's ancestors. The small Irish town of Moneygall near Dublin decked itself out in the red, white and blue colors of the American flag for the occasion. The president's great-great-great grandfather on his mother's side is believed to have emigrated from there to the United States in 1850.

Despite a chilly evening in India, many viewed the proceedings as they happened live at 9 p.m. local time, holding impromptu gatherings in restaurants. In neighboring Pakistan, schoolchildren celebrated earlier in the day with a prayer ceremony for global peace.

Faith healers in Peru practiced an ancient Andean ritual known as Jatun Sonjo, or "Big Heart," which originally was dedicated to rulers of the Inca civilization. The ceremony included chanting Obama's name while shaking rattles and throwing flower petals at his photograph.

The town of Obama, Japan, had its own special inaugural celebration with a ceremony at a Buddhist temple, followed by a Hawaiian-style party and hula dancing to honor the president's birthplace in the 50th U.S. state. The Kenyan name Obama means "little beach" in Japanese, and the town has enjoyed newfound fame thanks to that coincidence.

A Ugandan reader pointed out to America.gov that the president's first name, Barack, means "blessing" in Swahili. He wrote, "May the good lord bless you during this amazing time of your life leadership."

SYMBOL OF EMPOWERMENT, ENGAGEMENT

Obama's inauguration offered reasons to celebrate besides his heritage: Some viewed his presidency as the empowerment of the post-baby-boom generation; for others it represented a new beginning in America's relations with the world.

A reader from the Netherlands welcomed Obama's inaugural address for its "warning of greed and [the] failure of the previous administration. ... I feel safe again and the hatred against the West will diminish much sooner now," he wrote, but also hoped that people will "not expect too much too soon."

A reader in Canada welcomed the improvement in the U.S. public image, saying, "As Canadians we feel it when you hurt, and are happy to share in this great joy."

That sentiment was echoed in a comment from South Africa. A reader told America.gov that if the United States is able to "find peace and prosperity, then the rest of the world will more than likely follow."

"Especially the Third World countries," she said. "Every time the USA sneezes, we cop the fallout."

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)