*The Debatewise Blog
O.
Across the globe on Tuesday millions tuned in to watch the first African American President of the United States be sworn in to office. There are claims it was the most watched inauguration in history. It was certainly the first inauguration where social media played such a big part, with sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr all experiencing huge levels of traffic. Myspace, however, fared slightly worse - people were encouraged to leave a message for the President but it seems (apart from the celebrities paid to do so) absolutely no-one did.Offline, however, there was a resounding message of support for the President, rippling out from a global epicenter as the hundreds of thousands in the national mall chanted ‘Oh-Bah-Mah’ over and over again. The effect was primitive, as the staccato syllables punctuated a sky rife with expectation. Because that’s exactly what we’re feeling now – expectation. With his campaign slogan of ‘change’ Obama has promised us a way out, and we’re all waiting. Undoubtedly under him things will change. He’s already planning the closure of Guantanamo bay, but this, like other changes, isn’t something he can effect immediately. Despite the positive media attention at the inauguration, the hardened hacks have already pounced on his blunder during the swearing in, and even his social life was left unscathed as The Times critiqued his dancing at the inauguration balls inviting strictly come dancing judges to score him. Clearly in Brtain at least, we are still abiding by the ‘build ‘em up, knock ‘em down’ mantra of celebrity culture, but perhaps we should hold off for a while. Obama will need to alter his message from the campaign-successful ‘change now!’ to the longer term strategy of ‘change carefully, and change correctly’ and we need to give him space to do so. Good luck President O, there’s a lot of people watching you.