Asian Connection: Barack Obama’s Asian heritage comes from his younger sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. His sister from the same mother is part Indonesian because her father is Indonesian.

So when Barack looks at his sister he sees himself, thereby seeing himself as an Asian. This then means that Barack is truly "One out of Many" in this instance the racial make-up of the Old World (Africa, Asia and Europe). As Obama (2004) points out: "It is my family, though—my mother, my grandparents, my siblings, stretched across oceans and continents...." (p.xvii). that is a very unique racial/ethnic combination.

Arabian Connection Obama's name represents the decline of American constitutional government, and the rise of internationalism. President Obama represents the way the world is and not the way you want it to be. Even though Change could sometimes be a bitter commodity, one has to get used to it as it is indeed inevitable. Multicultural is multicolored and very  beautiful. Think of it as a rainbow and a symbol of God's promise, if you believe in such things. The following analysis of Obama’s name would perhaps help you in thinking your way out.

Barack Obama’s full name is Barack (1) Hussein (2) Obama (3).
(1) The name Barack is a form of the Arabic word Barakah, meaning blessed (from the root "Brk"), specifically, the "meaning of Barakah in an Islamic sense" refers to "the presence of divine blessing in an object and increasing those blessing."

 (2) Hussein is derived from the Muslim prophet Mohammed’s grandson, (son of Fatima), specifically:   Hussein is a diminutive form of Hassan, which is derived from Hassan (beautiful, handsome, good). Hussein, one of the most popular Muslim names, was borne by Al-Hussein (626-80), a son of the Prophet’s daughter Fatima and Ali ibn-Abi-Talib. Hussein and his followers were massacred at Kerbela on October 10, 680, a day that is now celebrated as a Holy Day for the Shiites. The name is also borne by the king of Jordan, Hussein ibn-Talal (b. 1935). He ascended to the throne in 1953 after the abdication of his father in 1952.

So what does Obama mean?
(3) The name Obama is a family name three generations back, from Barack Obama’s father "Barack Obama, Sr.", to his father, "Hussein Onyango Obama", and likely before, though earlier records will probably be found only in archives.

Those wishing to further research Hussein Onyango Obama’s father might check a 1935 dental study done of the 190 boys and men at the Jalou Maseno School in 1935. For those curious about the name Onyango, it apparently means born in the morning in Jalou, the language of Obama’s grandfather, from the Jalou Tribe in Kenya that occupied the shores along Lake Victoria and Kisumu Bay. Consequently, it is widely perceived in several quarters that just the name ‘Barrack Hussein Obama’ has created some amount of love for him in the Arab world.

In this regard, this simple linguistic connotation serves as a strong influential attraction to many Arabs, eventually creating an extra amount of love, respect, honor and sympathy for the Obama administration that would most likely simmer down to the entire American people and further enhances the American image in the Arab zone. Consequently, terrorism and anti Americanism would definitely drop drastically.

* Religious background
Long before the creation of Christianity and Islam, Africans in Africa were practicing their own traditional religions. Reader (1998) notes that 100,000 years ago, out of an estimated less than one million people that lived on planet Earth, 900,000 lived within the continent of Africa (p.130). It is apparent that if there were any religions practiced within Africa at that time, they had to be traditional or indigenous African religions, since Christianity and Islam did not exist.

Mazrui (1986) writes that: "Long before the religion of the crescent or the religion of the cross arrived on the African continent, Africa was at worship, its sons and daughters were at prayer" (p.135). By 2001, however, out of 823.4 million people in Africa, Muslims comprised 371.4 million (45.1%), Christians 304.3 million (36.9%) and those who continue to practice traditional African religions comprised 137.8 million (16.7%) (Kaba, 2005c:560).

This means that, although more than four out of every five people in Africa are either Christians or Muslims, people in this continent first only practiced their own traditional religions. This then may hold true for Barack Obama’s father, because he was of "pure" African descent, which means that his ancestors once practiced traditional African religions.  Second, according to Barack Obama, his grandfather in Kenya was once a Muslim, but that his father became an atheist from a young age.

So it is similar to a person having an atheist father who was born to a Catholic or Protestant father and the son of that person not ever being a Catholic or Protestant. Third, Barack Obama is a Christian and his white family comes from a Christian background in Europe. It is noted that Barack Obama himself has been a Christian for decades.

The examples above show that just as Barack Obama has a Triple Heritage by ethnicity, so also has he a Triple Heritage through religion. The question now is whether due to his Dual Triple Heritage, if there is the potential for Barack Obama to contribute to uniting not only the United States, but also the world?

GLOBAL EXPECTATIONS FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
Following the above analysis of the key reasons surrounding the unprecedented popularity of the 2008 race for the White House, it would indeed be unfair to surrender my pen without highlighting some of the tasks ahead of the Obama administration.

We now move to the various global burning issues that are of grave concern to both the American people and the rest of the world. As to whom much is given much is expected, the new administration surely faces myriads of issues calling for urgent attention. Such issues of great public interest range from various dimensions of politics, socio-economics, religion, unemployment, nutrition, health, education and security.

MIDDLE EAST CRISIS
For several decades now, the world has been witnessing a brutal war in the Arab world which seems almost unstoppable as it gets worsened by the day. This long standing instability between Israel and Palestine is a headache to every meaningful human being. Due to the massive loss of innocent life and valuable property, nothing is more dearly needed by the helpless oppressed people of Palestine than everlasting justice and peace.

Thus, the White House’s role in this conflict must multiply immensely if it should have a positive impact on this crazy war. By the way, the recent call made to the region by President Obama on his very first day in office which indicates an act of urgent priority undoubtedly renews the hope and expectation bestowed on the ability of the Obama government to help bring about a lasting solution to this Middle Eastern conflict. Without any form of impartiality based on religious lines, the emphasis here is for the U.S to take a sincerely neutral path in this venture.

WAR ON TERROR
Brain child of 9/11, the world definitely wants a stop to the so called WAR ON TERROR on Afghanistan and Iraq to be specific, as a lot of destruction has already been incurred. Not only has the lives of young American and other soldiers been lost but as well as those of innocent citizens of various nationalities.

Since after over eight years of unrest in Afghanistan, still Bin Laden, the Mastermind is at large, the reason for the Iraqi invasion is also absolutely insignificant even with the assassination of Saddam.  For this reason, an accelerated withdrawal of U.S and other troops from these two countries would be highly welcome. What ever happens, the sovereignty and dignity of nations must totally be respected at all times. In the interest of the American people and other nationalities, let the will of the people stand for the sake of the innocent children and helpless women.

NUCLEAR WEAPON CRISIS
For the sake of a safer global environment, the Iranian and North Korean nuclear weapon programs should be thoroughly but diplomatically pursued to avoid any potential crisis. As custodians of the universe, we as a people and America as the leader must together with the United Nations ensure that mankind lives dignifiedly in a comfortable world of peace, progress and happiness with abundant good health and useful material wealth.

In assuming this leading role, the Obama administration must learn to be much sincere and diplomatic in her international relations as that’s the only way it can acquire universal trust, honor and admiration.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
The recent hard hitting global economic crisis had in many ways hampered various economies across the world, hence resulting to difficulties in the affordability of some of the most needed basic amenities like food and oil. Thus, as governments’ spending lowers due to budgetary cut downs, financial institutions’ deposits simultaneously decrease resulting to a higher cost of living.

With regards to this serious menace to the world, the U.S being a major economic player in collaboration with other economic powers and the Breton Woods Institutions would definitely have a pivotal role to play. In pursuance of this, the need for both closer bilateral and multilateral trade would be Key.

UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY AND DISEASE
Closely linked, unemployment, poverty and disease have since time immemorial seriously hampered the living standards of the entire people of the world especially the third world. Therefore, the lack of jobs for better financial positions has strongly created more vulnerability to these poor societies as access to food, education and proper health care becomes very difficult.

In this regard, malnutrition, disease and illiteracy have become indelible attributes especially in sub-Saharan Africa. That notwithstanding, even though the U.S itself is not totally free from these situations its immense contribution to make a great difference is hugely expected. For these reasons, as the world expects more bilateral relationship with the U.S, developing countries to be specific would be particularly interested in a closer collaboration with the Obama Administration through financial assistance and mutual trade relationships.

RACISM
The fact that President Obama was elected by the majority of Americans who mainly constituted white people obviously means that America is being readied for the fight against racism. We therefore hope and pray to see an America where ‘’the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regards to race, and an America where the color of a man’s/woman’s skin is of no more significant than the color of his/her eyes’’.  

In relation to this, below is an excerpt from Martin Luther King’s popular ‘’ I have a dream’’ sermon given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28th 1963, exactly 45 years, five months and eight days before President Obama’s inauguration, which states in quote; ‘’As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.

We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only".

We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream’’.

CONCLUSION
Being the first African-American to reach the peak of the U.S mantle, Obama has a Herculean task of overcoming the fight against racism. With the help of the government and the entire American people, following in the footsteps of the great heroes like Martin Luther Jr., Malcolm X and E.B. Dubois to name a few. President Obama needs more determination, prayer, luck and support to accomplish the liberation struggle.

Kudos to America and the American people for accepting the desired meaningful ‘CHANGE’ in the world’s most influential country. Indeed a true sign of perfect democracy that a strange but deserved victory is achieved as Luther’s dream is fulfilled, Mandela’s wish is accomplished, Bob Marley’s prophecy is fulfilled, Two Pac’s desire is achieved and ALLAH’s command executed.

On January 20th the world has started experiencing not only the ability and agility of a Blackman, but as well as the impact of the wisdom and courage of a long-term oppressed hero on a global stage. So while still rejoicing as you have all rights to, please let us pray for Allah’s perfect guidance and protection for the Obama Administration.