"The OBAMA SYNDROME"

"The Obama Syndrome" - wow! what is this? I would define it as an impetus for CHANGE, a CHANGE invented by Barrack Obama. I have called it The Obama Syndrome.

I am a lecturer living in Malaysia. I wish also to introduce another terminology which I called “The Protest Syndrome”. Seen and taken in both context, the 2 syndromes have prompted people in the Middle East to energize a power so great that they are willing to come to the streets to die to shake up their corrupt Governments and leaders.

The Obama Syndrome has brought with it a message to autocratic rulers the world over that real power is still in the hands of the people and not them.

I watched CNN and BBC almost every other hour when I have the time and goes roaming into the world of cyber space whenever there is time. The world today is small, just a click will tell you who’s right and who’s wrong and what’s going on. This in itself is CHANGE. Even classified state secrets have been revealed, Wikileaks has proven this.

The recent upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt calling for CHANGE have made me to coin this thing I called “The Obama Syndrome”. It stems from the word CHANGE which he advocated. Barrack was the guy, now President of the world’s greatest country who polarizes this word “CHANGE” with democracy. He won his Presidency banking on it.

The United States, a free country where its Government is for the people and with the people, a state where democracy is the cornerstone of the system, gave a new meaning to people all over the world that CHANGE can bring with it new hopes and new beginnings.

Of course this syndrome for change picked up pace and now seems to be the crystal ball of all the Middle Eastern countries. From Tunisia to Egypt and Libya, mayhem has broken out due to the want of CHANGE. All have echoed for CHANGE and it still goes on at this very moment.

Today, I understand that it has spread to some women’s groups in India. They too want CHANGE due to the rising food prices in the continent.

But admittedly by all practical norms, CHANGE cannot be brought about overnight. It must first be made known by the people through some kind of protest, be it mild, drastic or otherwise. This protest for CHANGE can by itself develop into a syndrome, evidenced by the current happenings in the Middle East. I have called it "The Protest Syndrome".