Dear Editor,

A true leader should not allow opponents to define him but, by his own strength and weaknesses, he should not fail to justify the confidence placed in him.

President Obama, now with little to lose, should use his constitutional powers to do the right things for the American people and by extension the rest of the world.

Being a leader is not a popularity contest, as leaders are given almost divine powers to motivate others both by actions and words, even when you cannot satisfy everybody’s expectation they will be convinced that you have acted in their best interest.

It must be understood that President Obama on January 20, 2009 was sworn in as president with the highest handicap score of any other modern-day president: He is an African American.

President Obama’s popularity peaked just by being elected president; his tenure in office at that particular time was secondary, but, like all human beings, he was not clothed with the mantle of immortality and it was inevitable that his popularity would be downgraded as a mortal being.

Maintaining such a superior level of likeability with high expectations was way beyond any mortal being’s ability to achieve.

His timing for the presidential run was perfect; the American people and the rest of the world were yearning for a new political leader with a difference.

He, however, was targeted for failure by some of his opponents, by using obstruction tactics, by blocking some important legislation that would be beneficial to a large percentage of the American population.

Awarding President Obama with a Nobel Peace Prize during his first term in office was premature and ill-advised, setting the bar of expectation to an unrealistically high level — not to say he is not deserving of the honour.

His unrelenting efforts to help the middle class did not meet the approval of some of his opponents who represented the monied class. His achievements have not been aggressively marketed allowing his opponents to suppress them.

The president, in his final years in office, has been given a lifeline of less expectation and so, can use powers vested by law to work with the other legislative arms in the best interest of country.

I firmly believe that even some of those who oppose the president publicly admire him for the genuineness he displays by wanting the world to be a better place.

Tony Miles

tonymiles1940@gmail.com