President Barack Hussein Obama’s historic ascension to our country’s highest office has not only affected our own nation and lives, but it has also profoundly impacted even the most bucolic of societies and cultures throughout the world.

A personal encounter clearly demonstrates the impressive global impact of “Obama-mania.” Last summer, while interning at the American Embassy in the Republic of Singapore, I hailed a taxi driver late at night who spoke very little English.

One can only imagine the amusing nature of this conversation, given my basic proficiency in Chinese coupled with his extremely limited knowledge of English. However, upon learning that I was American, he immediately turned to me and said “Obama for President!”

I was absolutely stunned. Perplexed, I thought, “Here is a taxi driver an ocean away from my home who barely speaks our language, yet this man, in only three words, effectively encapsulated the cultural movement that has elected Barack Obama as our 44th President.”

At that particular time, I did not understand why this man felt the way he did, but I now believe I can answer this question.

Beginning at noon on Jan. 20, 2009, this taxi driver, along with most every man and woman throughout the world, could now dare to hope that one day his or her own future, natural-born children might become the President of the United States.

How incredible of a concept this is! Just 40 years ago, America was deeply struggling with a racially divided populace that was consensually certain that the son of a Kenyan could never become our president. But look how far we have come from those days.

Today, any farmer or fisherman in even the most desolate and destitute of conditions is now assured that should they be able to immigrate (legally, of course) to the Land of the Free, their future child could have a limited, but legitimate chance to be the leader of the free world.

Of course that prospect is undoubtedly difficult and seemingly improbable, but the point is, it is no longer impossible.

After decades of dissension and doubt, the global American Dream is certainly alive and well!

Across humanity there is a historic unity among us and far less to divide us. Today, many people in the world pray and hope that America will recover and prosper so that one day their children might also experience the ultimate American Dream.

This current hope, no matter how limited or small, transcends cultures while traversing borders, and regardless of our own personal views or political affiliations, I think that we can honestly all agree that even a little “Hope” can go a long way.

Brian T. Jack

Peachtree City, Ga.

[Jack is a current undergraduate at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., double-majoring in International Management and Political Science.]