On the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Barack Obama has won the nomination by the Democratic Party to be the 44th president of the United States. 45 years after the dream of Dr. King became renowned all over the world, Obama has brought that dream one step closer to reality: a black man as America’s next president.

To a lot of people Barack Obama stands for change. Change from the Bush administration, change from a rigid form of government, change from false promises, change from disappointed and most of all: change from the typical picture we have of a US president. This is not only true for the American people, but also for the rest of the world. To them, Obama stands for opportunity.

In his article, ‘The next president’, Richard Holbrooke really makes a point by comparing Obama’s positions on different topics with the positions of John McCain. While McCain for most of the part plans to follow today’s administration, Obama is determined to break with the old administration and go on an entirely different path. From actions against climate change, to his positions on Iraq, Afghanistan or Iran: he wants to cut loose from former registration and follow a new path, a path of diplomacy and opportunity. And this to the rest of the world is like a breath of fresh air.

America is a superpower, which is undeniable. But this superiority can at times easily be mistaken for arrogance and this is exactly the problem that it had to face the last couple of years. Through the Bush administration America internationally came across as trying to be some sort of ‘world police’, implementing what it thought was right and should be done. By doing so a lot of people turned against actions that in its core were of good intentions. Doubt about self-interest and a need for control have grown immensely. So to be an effective president, one that acts to the best of his abilities, the next president has to reinsure a stable position in the world. America can only maintain its position as superpower by insuring its credibility as being one. This means that it must lose its ‘bully’ reputation and become human again. Obama is that human face: he makes discussion possible. And in the world to succeed diplomacy is key.

As Obama said in his speech last night, McCain agrees with 90% of what the Bush administration has done, does and stands for. If McCain were to be chosen as the next president, not only to America, but to the entire world this would mean that probably nothing is going to change and change is exactly what is needed in this country. I wish I could say that I was a 100% certain that Obama does everything he has promised this country he would do, but of course I can’t. However, what I do know is that by voting for Obama you at least give room for opportunity and change.

It’s time for a new day to come.