United Nations, New and Improved?

The lively aura surrounding the 250 resident correspondents in the United Nations building feels foreign amongst all of the dead and abandoned electronics that line the cramped hallways. Reporters are busily tapping away at keyboards and listening through headsets to the daily Security Council meeting being held all day. However, one would not believe that a major change had just occurred in one of the UN’s most powerful member states. It has only been about two months since United States’ President Barack Obama took office, but the novelty of it has seemed to have already faded. Perhaps it is the natural skepticism of journalists, but there seems to be some doubts about the predictions of positive changes to come for the UN.

“There’s not like a single story of like everyone loves Obama, everything’s going to be better,” said Inner City blog reporter Matthew Lee. “I’ve seen so many stories that are just like ‘it’s a new era’ and I’m not really sure.”

Despite the raised eyebrows at the Obama optimism by many, it cannot be denied that he has brought some change to the building, if in mood only.
Neil MacFarquhar, a reporter for The New York Times said: “I think there is a change of tone and there’s a sense of anticipation but in terms of actual concrete examples of change, I don’t think there is or has been one so far.”

It appears that the general feeling towards the new Obama administration is one of cautious apprehension. Because things work at the UN, according to Mr. MacFarquhar, at a “glacial pace,” it is too soon to say whether or not the changes brought by President Obama and Ambassador Rice will be good or bad.