I resisted the urge to use this space to say what others, shouting from the rooftops, the sun shining on them, blessing them, already have — that this is the dawning of a new era — the Age of Obama, so to speak. We will now all move forward together to create a more equal, just society that will truly be a “beacon of hope” for the rest of the world.

President-elect Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress have an almost unprecedented opportunity to effect profound and much-needed change in Washington. There is phenomenal potential. Universal health care, the restoration of America’s reputation on the world stage, education reform, the end of our occupation of Iraq, fairer tax policies, a reduced dependency on foreign oil — all that once seemed to be unattainable is now within grasp.

And I’m not just being dramatic — Democrats have the power to implement policies that before seemed the stuff of fantasy (or of every other industrialized nation).

The promise of change Obama has made to Americans, and the capacity of he and his colleagues in Congress to effect this change, means that we need to hold his administration to high standards. He raised expectations and now must meet them. Obama claimed to be a man not only of words, but also of actions. Let him make good on that assertion. But he must not be forgiven if he squanders his chances to do what he promised.

I hate the notion of “faith” in government officials. I prefer proof that government officials are doing what they are elected to do. My vote was as close to a show of faith as any candidate can get from me.

I’ll give Obama time. I’ll be more critical of President Obama than I was of President Bush, out of whom I expected little. I don’t mean to be a thunderstorm liberal, expressing disappointment at the new administration’s lack of accomplishments before Obama has even taken office. At the same time, Obama is treated as being above politics, a celebrity demigod turned policy-maker, who will be immune from criticism. Obama should feel the pressure of the millions of voters who put faith in him with their votes. If he is true to his image, then Obama will withstand the most intense scrutiny. In fact, our doubt may prove to be a strong motivator for the new president.

He needn’t despair that we’re not cheering him on — he attained a rousing mandate, the only evidence of our faith. Faith is blind, but the blinders come off in January. We want to see happen what we feel will happen. Enjoy the feeling that good things are coming. Just don’t let that feeling lull you into complacency. We haven’t gotten what we voted for yet.

Shaun Poust is a freshman journalism major. E-mail him at spoust1@ithaca.edu.