This year’s celebration of fathers is very special to me indeed, that I’ve decide to nominate and declare Sen. Barack Obama the 2008 father of the year. Reason being that, although other fathers are experiential, wonderful and powerful, Obama has proved beyond doubt he’s what it takes, and knows how to say yes he can for his family, and “Yes we can” to America and the world. He’s given overwhelming inspiration, courage, a sense of pride and strength to America, especially African-Americans, Africans in the motherland, and the world, as the first “black” presidential nominee in the United States of America.

As a fearless and sound/openminded father, he’s defied every norms, culture of fear; culture of underachievement and has risen with hopes, high hopes that he’s. The hope he brings is the hope that has kept humankind going in the face of every odd, even death. He symbolizes this hope that comes with change, the change America can believe in.

No wonder the whole world stirred into joy on realizing he’s secured the democratic nomination for the 2008 presidential election. This kind of joy that I haven’t seen or heard of reveals the fact that something tangible was missing in this great country. It implies the world was concerned about the plight of the oppress minorities in America; that racism was a disease and dilemma of this nation, and that Obama’s success story is an indication that nothing in life is impossible. Yes, it shows that change is coming to America, hence signaling the world that change is inevitable.

America can proudly stand before the world and say, “yes we can!” It can educate, and appeal (not impose) to the world on democracy that is predicated on individual, group, and ethnic respect-more importantly, democracy that has equality as key element. Obama’s humble and fatherly character informed his foreign policy of “hard diplomacy” as against dictatorial stance that haven’t helped or changed the world. That’s the reason the world welcomes his candidacy with enthusiasm; with high hopes, hope for peaceful coexistence and collective growth.