Idealism On Its Way

United States President Barack Obama delivered his farewell speech from his hometown, Chicago, on Tuesday. While Obama insisted on the preciousness of American democracy, Japanese media depicted him as a missionary of idealism. Even how Obama appealed the audience to maintain his confidence on ideal future, the President-elect is enthusiastic to overturn the legacies of Obama.

With disappointment to the unexpected choice of American voters, Japanese media reported Obama appearing to the stage with loud chants of “Four more years.” “Whether we have seen eye-to-eye or rarely agreed at all my conversations with you, -- those conversations are what have kept me honest, and kept me inspired, and kept me going. And everyday, I have learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man,” thanked Obama.

Renewing his message at his campaign eight years ago, “Yes, we can,” Obama declared “Yes, we did.” Listing up his achievements of reversing a great recession, rebooting auto industry, unleashing the longest stretch of job creation, opening up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shutting down Iran’s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, taking out the mastermind of 9/11, winning marriage equality and securing the right to health insurance for another 20 millions of American citizens, Obama appealed what he had done were something incredible. Japanese media reported those policies with a sense of nostalgia.

What the Japanese have to learn from Obama’s speech was his insistence on democracy. Even how the result was inconvenient one, he urged the audience to accept new President elected through democratic process. “In 10 days, the world will witness a hallmark of our democracy,” Obama said interrupting broad chants of NO, “the peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected President to the next. I committed to President-elect Trump that my administration would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as President Bush did for me.”

Obama insisted that the potential of United States would only be realized if their democracy would work. “Understand,” Obama reminded, “democracy did not require uniformity. Our founders argued. They quarreled. Eventually they compromised. They expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require basic sense of solidarity.”

But, it was that idealism what created broad basis of boosting an ultra-realistic candidate in the Presidential election. Tired of slow progress of Obama’s idealism, America people chose immediate change for a stronger nation. Even Japan is in an enthusiasm of temporary rally of stock market with economic expectation to next administration. They will realize its consequence soon.