By Li Shan

Barak Obama is the most popular country leader in the world. Almost everyone knows him or knows of him. His action has effection on many countries and billions of individuals. His picture is on the Times magazine, the Thames newspaper and the list of the Noble Peace Prize Winners—he is everywhere.

In the evening of 4th November 2008, Barak Obama succeeded in defeating John Mccain and became the 44th president of the United States of America. What made it more remarkable was he was the first African-American president in American history.

I think it is a breakthrough in American history. We all know that in the past, African-Americans had lower status and they fought for year to get their rights back. Now, they are equal to other Americans by law but it is also a fact that the racial discrimination still exists to some extent. So when Barak Obama stepped into the White House, it represented another great step for African-Americans.

As for his ability of governance, I personally think that Obama had promising plans for his country during the election campaign and he was a charismatic person, a passionate public speaker, a skillful debater and a quite handsome guy too. I think many Americans shared the same idea with me and that was why they had their votes for him. I think he was really popular in America at that time.

A year has passed since he became the president and he seems not that popular in the States now. He had many plans when he was running the election. His reform plans in medical insurance, economy and his foreign policy were very attractive and won him great reputation. But after a year’s practice, his medical insurance reform has been delayed by the Congress, the finacial deficit is still high with a high unemployment rate and he hasn’t made a breakthrough in foreign affaris either. I feel a little disappointed actually for he turns out to be a better speaker than a practitoner. Now in America, his approval rate keeps falling, roughly from 70% to 54%.

As a Chinese, I care more about his policy towards China. It seems that there isn’t much change in his policy compared with Jorge W Bush’s carbinet. And some actions he took make our Chinese feel infringed, such as the increased tax rate on Chinese tyre, or even insulted considerng his meet with Dalai Lama. It is said that Obama would pay an official visit to China on 15th November and I hope this visit can bring some new light to Sino-US relations. The relationship between China and the United States is crucial to both China and America.

But I am not saying that there is no achievement during his one year job. One big success is that America is now recovering from the financial crisis and America now has a better public image in the world. Still, Obama is working diligently for his country and trying to fulfill the obligation of a major country. And I think it is still a little early to make a final judge of Obama’s leading ability and the validity of his plans. After all, one year is not a long period of time and many reforms need years to be realized.

But one thing is settled that his success in the election made a big mark in American history and I believe he would make more during his presidency.