FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo "Jun" Policarpio


"RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU"


We'll have a New Year and a new president in America next year, 2009. Is it really true what somebody said that normally we like anything new? Like a new car, a new house, a new pair of shoes, or a new suit.

Well, I think it depends on the quality of the new item. Let's talk about Barack Obama, the incoming new president of the United States.
Obama is new but has not been tested before as a chief executive of a large entity such as a country, a state, or a city. It remains to be seen what would his new approach in governance of the richest country in the world, the United States of America.

The multi-ethnic profile of Obama's cabinet based on the racial origin of his announced nominees, some Blacks, some Latinos, and some Asians, is a good sign. I would say that his admiration for Abraham Lincoln as his model president has something to do with it.

Obama's decision to retain President Bush's secretary of defense is also a reflection of his good judgment. His selection of former Army General Eric Shinseki to head the Veterans Affairs department is another thing worth to be appreciated to indicate his fairness and sensitivity to a most qualified leader.

Now comes the scandal involving Governor Blagogevich of Illinois, ardent political supporter in his home state. He is accused of selling Obama's Senate seat, perhaps to the highest bidder.

How well or bad President-elect Obama would handle this sticky problem is anybody's guess.

I welcome Obama's choice of Pastor Rick Warren, author of the book, PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, considered the biggest best seller of all time, to give the invocation during his inauguration next month.

He really needs the prayer of a man of faith to help his infant presidency guide the fate of the American people in these troubled times when the Devil seems to be very active in sowing evil.
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