On Thursday 4^th August, Barack Obama is going to make his half century. It is probably a day worth celebrating. Sometimes incumbents in any role do not get the recognition that they deserve. It is only in later years that they are seen to be the genius that they clearly were all along.

I wonder if this is going to happen to Obama or are there people around the world prepared to acknowledge the incredible achievement of this man and his commitment to world economic changes and peaceful living.

Of course, he is a human being, and there are faults in all of us. He tows the US line about it being the good and the great and that God is overseeing the lives of those over there more than in any other country on the planet. And there are things that he has done that have tested our belief in him.

However, there are far more things that delight us and send chills of hope tickling along our spines with the vision, and as importantly the action that accompanies it. There are many that can speak the words but there are fewer that have the ability and the sensibility to take actions towards their visions and hopes.

This morning there was an interview with Barack Obama on the Andrew Marr show. I have to admit that like many women of a certain age and a certain political persuasion, I am ever so slightly in love with the man. Prior to the interview on television, Mark Mardell provided a short summary of life since Obama took the helm of the most powerful country in the world (apart from China possibly).

All of a sudden, I was transported back to that day in November when I kept my lap top directly next to me in bed, waiting for the news and then waiting for the man himself to walk into the Chicago night and accept the affirmation from the thousands collected there and the millions who were waiting around the world. Surrounded by glass screens, he looked out and declared his hope, his wisdom and his desire for a new world and he professed that we can change things. Yes, we can.

He reiterated this in his inauguration speech in the chilled environment of Washington on an extremely cold day in January and still the people came to see this saviour dressed in a darkened coloured skin. Was this real? Hadn’t Dr. King predicted it? That one day men and women, whatever the colour of their skin, would be free to vote and even lead a nation such as this.

Well, here we were. A black president and despite the enormity of this, it is not what makes Obama great. What makes him the man he is, is the insight, the fortitude and the desire to make real and definable changes that are going to affect generations and nations far wider than his specific domain of governance.

This indeed is a great man.

Credit also to Andrew Marr. The interview was not sycophantic despite the fact that Marr was clearly having the time of his life interviewing this icon of politics. He posed some tricky questions, some of which the 44^th President declined to answer, but yet again Obama showed more humility than many a politician by being honest enough to admit that he was resolute in not answering the questions rather than pathetically attempting to answer in such a way that it circled around the original point that was made by the interviewer.

You have to respect the man.

Marr was direct and questioned him immediately about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Had it gone to plan? Obama answered calmly. The troops had gone in with the strict instruction to come out safely. But again, he put a human touch on it all by admitting that it was the longest 40 minutes of his life.

It doesn’t fit well with me. I know that bin Laden needed to be found. I know that international law would not have allowed the USA to drag him through the streets hung, drawn and quartered but it is perfectly apparent that there must have been a Shoot to Kill policy once they finally found the man.
Of course, where there is fact, this is usually backed up by fiction and there is a fantastic episode of The West Wing where the President gives the go-ahead to assassinate a terrorist leader. It is excruciating because this command goes against everything that you believe Bartlett stood for. To an extent the same can be said of this situation. To an extent.

He continued to talk about Pakistan and the problems that face the country and the issue of realigning their concern for the biggest threats to the country lie from within and not from the Indian nation to the east. But the really significant part of the interview was his wise words on the Middle East.
Not only did he reiterate his call to look once more at the 1967 boundary and the need for a Palestinian state but he effectively said all of this without deliberately antagonising the Israelis. He managed to say it in such a way that made it look as though his strongest empathy was with the Jewish nation and not that of the Arab oppressed whilst simultaneously giving some credence to Hammas and the Palestinian cause; all very clever and indeed some might even say calculated.

He discussed the Arab Spring and all the hope and ambition of the people in this troubled part of the world. Obama made the point that peaceful demonstration, political forethought and sensible, creative negotiations were the way forward in all places of the world.

And so the interview continued. He recognised the futility of a continuing combat operation in Afghanistan. He outlined the huge leaps to equality that had come about in his country due to the health care reforms and his determination to steady the economic pressures that face the needy of his land. And he told of the delightful conversations with the queen at Buckinghaaaam but gently reminded the interviewer that it was as important and as insightful to listen to the words of a man having his breakfast in a downtown diner. Such people said as much, and implicitly much more, than the head of state of any nation.

It is good to be the beholder of greatness and to recognise the genuine humility of a man that has such promise resting on his shoulders.

So was it all in the stars for his birthday that this man should be the person that he is?

Back to my birthday book and it tells me that his meditation should be “to accept and even enjoy advancing age is one of the great arts of living”. But not until that second term is in the bag, eh Barack?

The man is an Ox, quite literally of course as far as Chinese astrology is concerned. To this effect, he is patient, perseverant, logical, methodical, hardworking, dependable, conventional, polite, and calm. He is a fast thinker and a good debater that can be stubborn, biased and demanding and can also appear cold and careless.

But this is fairly generic stuff. What about the metal Ox of August 4^th.

You stick to your principles, your loves and your projects. Your behaviour is rigorous and fierce, and you do not let anything slip out of your hands without fighting. Besides, you cannot stand failures and in that case, you show a perseverance that borders on obstinacy. Therefore, tenacity may turn into stubbornness and extremism. It doesn't matter! Your courage and stamina are unanimously praised

.

And furthermore, what does the birthday book say of the potential greatness of the man?

His tarot card is the emperor; stable and wise – rather a decent card for a man of such importance.
Those born on this day are often a “guiding light” to the political or social movement. Not always cut out to be leaders they should have a principal position nonetheless. Being able to go their own way is important to the restless people born on this day. They are quick and clever. They seek to exert influence and they have a determined strength that is formidable.

And advice for these people?
“Remember your responsibilities. Try to temper your dislike of authority and be more tactful in dealing with your superiors. Your freedom is not always the most valuable thing. Learn acceptance, concentration, awareness”

The birthday book says that but I say this. “Remember your responsibilities. Do not temper your dislike of authority. Use it to get the equalities that have so long escaped that alleged great country of yours. Use that temper to eradicate the injustices that have been inherent. Be tactful and courteous to others but be resolute. Your freedom will come with the freedom from others such is your belief in your values. Do not accept injustice. Concentrate on this awareness and progress into the second term with radical changes that will make a difference now and for future generations”.

And carry on listening Obama, and carry on believing, and carry on sounding like a good old socialist!

Of course, this is all slightly marred by the fact that Obama shares his birthday with the Queen Mother. Perhaps he will learn to enjoy a tipple of gin and stout.