Barrack Obama has accepted the Democratic nomination to run for President of the United States of America and done so with a message of hope. This is indeed an historic time and we pray that the people of the US will grasp with both hands this opportunity to bring lasting change to their nation and the world. Obama has promised that in the election campaign itself he will try to rise above the old partisan politics which have defined so many American elections. It is difficult to see how he will carry this promise entirely but at least he is openly accepting that this type of politics belongs in the past.

The extent to which Obama understands the problems facing America was clear from his speech. He said, “tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit card bills you can’t afford to pay, and tuition that’s beyond your reach. These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W Bush.” This statement must be accepted by all Americans in the run up to the election so that new administration can bring their message of hope and begin to undo the damage of the last eight years.

And there has been great damage. Internationally the United States is discredited and reviled for their invasion of Iraq and use of torture in that nation, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. It will take a long time to address this issue but it will only begin to be addressed if Barrack Obama is elected on November 4th. We are at a crossroads in history and pray that the American people will make the right decision on that day. The security of the world is depending on them.

“Politics is the art of human happiness.”

H.A.L. Fisher