Our country needs a leader who will unite us. Despite my interest in politics, until Barack Obama’s Presidential bid, I have never been inspired to get involved in a campaign. I support Senator Obama for President for many reasons. First as a lawyer, I believe that he will protect our constitutional rights. As a fellow community activist, I admire his organizing experience. As an American, I embrace his message of hope and change after years of doom and gloom. As a Bangladeshi-American I welcome his thoughtful approach to international relations.

My father came to America from Bangladesh in 1976 for graduate school. Our family joined him the next year. Being born during Bangladesh’s War of Independence, politics – American and Bangladeshi - has always fascinated me. My father used to share stories of his student politics days. I sensed his excitement when talking about his hopes for the new country. I also hear his frustration with today’s political situation. I can remember listening to the 1980 US Presidential election results. Although we loved to talk and follow politics, like most immigrants, we did not participate in the political process.

Over the years my fascination grew but not an interest in becoming politically active. I went to law school in order to ‘serve the community.’ I had assumed that legal advocacy was the key to empowerment. Representing New York Bangladeshis and other immigrants after the tragic attacks of 9/11, I often felt I was simply cleaning up after bad laws. Helping our community deal with the negative consequences of the USA PATRIOT ACT, Special Registration, and other post 9/11 policies, I realized the importance of having good political leaders. Since we are all affected by government policies, we cannot afford apathy.

While volunteering for the Obama campaign in my home state of Michigan my father and I renewed our political conversations and began a mutual political activism. My parents have always voted, but never before supported a campaign. Throughout the Primaries, their immigrant anxieties caused them to ask, “do you think that he can make it?” Once Senator Obama secured the Democratic nomination, their belief in the American Dream led them to wonder what electing a non-white person would mean for their children. Now I see in them true hope that something might really change if he gets elected. Still my mother cautions if perhaps Senator Obama should ‘wait his turn.’ Like many South Asians, she had supported Hillary Clinton, following her every step to ‘Hillary para’ in Bangladesh and throughout her campaign. Others hoped that Hillary would become the VP. Mom, I say, “America is not about waiting, it is about seizing the moment!”

Now is the moment to seize change in our country. America and the world need Barack Obama’s leadership. Bangladeshi-Americans, like every American, will benefit from a President with good judgment who can make friends and influence people. Senator Obama believes in a world that stands as one. An Obama Presidency can also help our family and friends in Bangladesh. He spoke in Berlin of our responsibilities to each other and asked whether we would fight poverty in Bangladesh. Unlike his opponent, Senator Obama warns against global climate change which is devastating Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi-Americans and Senator Obama share immigration, national security, and foreign policy goals. A son of an immigrant, he appreciates America’s heritage. He identifies with the work ethic and hope for a better future which drove Bangladeshis to immigrate here. Obama emphasizes that we are a nation of laws and immigrants. As US Senator he introduced amendments to immigration bills that would help keep immigrant families together. He offered a plan to legalize the millions of undocumented immigrants, thousands of whom are Bangladeshis, and offer them a path to eventual citizenship.

Barack Obama has taken a strong stance against civil rights violations and racial profiling. In his 2004 Democratic National Convention address he mentioned protecting the due process and civil liberties of all Americans. He has a record fighting employment, housing and other forms of discrimination.

Some Bangladeshi-Americans may have concerns about his Campaign’s outreach to Muslims. We must remember that unlike his Republican opponent, Senator Obama has never publicly opposed having a Muslim US President and has begun critiquing the implicit insult to Muslim-Americans in questions about his faith. He wants to ensure that his slogan of respect, empower and include applies to everyone. Senator Obama acknowledges Palestinian suffering and has visited Palestine. He is not afraid of negotiating to resolve conflict.

My parents’ Obama yard sign symbolizes more than change we can believe in - it is change that we must all participate in. By helping to elect Barack Obama President, we Bangladeshi-Americans can play a part in achieving our hopes for this great nation.

Moushumi Khan is a Bangladeshi-American community activist and lawyer. She recently graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government where she was a Zuckerman Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership.