Yesterday’s inauguration of Barack Obama struck me not so much for its pomp and circumstance but for its civility and order. A couple of million people gathered in one place without violence, without parallel protest marches for Gaza, and barely a boo for the outgoing George Bush (I must confess, I had hoped for a massive tossing of shoes in his direction). I don’t think this level of group love-in has been witnessed for some time and I, like many, would hardly have believed it possible in these narcissistic times. Which all goes to show that people are starved for leadership and role models they can believe in. The problem of course, is that President Obama makes all other politicians appear like hollow shells, none more so than our Canadian Prime Minister Harper and members of the opposition. The last time we had something Obamaesque was Pierre Elliott Trudeau, although he came with lots of warts and other imperfections (arrogance, divorce, elitism, to name a few). Nevertheless he was much revered and his funeral some years ago (and many years after his last political presence) brought out hundreds of thousands to line the railway tracks and pay tribute to the passing hearse-train.

Which raises an important point: Is charisma necessary for good leadership? Probably not. Angela Merkel of Germany springs to mind, as do many former Canadian PM’s such as Pearson and Diefenbaker, who although lacking in Obamaness proved to be pretty good managers of the country’s business. On the other hand, it sure doesn’t hurt, especially when one reflects on the appalingly low voter turnout in recent Canadian federal and provincial elections that broke all records for non-participation.