All over the US the last weeks there was a 89-character text that spread faster than the actual news. It read "Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. Barack is running so our children can fly". History was made. Differently than before. Historians, political scientists, pshychologists, sociologists, philosophers, anthropologists will have a great topic for a paper, a book or even a dissertation. An African-American (half white though) is President of the USA. African Americans felt for once that the sun shone at them. So did the Spaniards and every minority that can make the US this wonderful melting pot that it can be.
Personally I am extremely happy that Obama won. I feel he can much better address US domestic economic woes and put some order in the US's insane imperialistic international policy. Whether he will actually succeed in addressing the state of crisis that the US finds itself in - and the rest of the world - remains to be seen. The good news is that he will be playing at home - in whichever country he might be. Obama will be welcome everywhere - or at least almost everywhere
But last night a history much more important than the future of US politics was made, or the feeling of justice that spread like the 89-character text among African Americans - most of whom burst into tears of joy and exhilaration.
Last night, the values of democracy won. This election had a historic outcome. For the first time a President with African American origin. For the first time a President that is supported by the world. For the first time a US President supported by Africans, African Americans, Caucasians, WASPs, educated, uneducated, Spaniards, muslims, Greeks, environmentalists, foreign PMs, the list is long. Not supported by Texans perhaps, but that has proved not to be a big issue, not this time. The US in a night turned from a nation of fear to a nation of hope. Yet, the most important victory is that of participation in state affairs. For the first time since perhaps the early 20th century the majority of Americans cared and actually voted. Obama cashed on US citizens' hope for real change. Whether it was out of dissatisfaction and the depression in America caused by the dominance of neo-liberalism in Washington and of course its failed promise, or whether it was hope as the dawn of a new era will bring is at this moment irrelevant. What is important is that the percentage of people who actually read the papers, watched the debades, thought about the future of their country, believed their opinion counted and went actually to vote, it was the largest victory. Estimations of voter percentage comes close to 70%! Traditional percentage of voter population was 40%. That was in itself a phenomenal historical event. And the majority is almost always right. This is what democracy is all about!
Obama's sweet victory reminds me of Bob Marley's song: 'The sun is shining, the weather is sweet, makes you wanna move your dancing feet. To the rescue...here I come'
3 comments:
It is indeed very exciting to see someone who looks to be a true statesman and citizen of the world, and with his running mates record on foreign affairs it is a dream ticket.
Question is ... is he the right man at the wrong time, we all know how fickle the american electorate is and with the bush induced recession gripping will the good work and promise he holds be quickly dissolved trying to shore up a crumbling economy and financial system.
I truly hope not
Dominic, thanks for your posting. We all hope not!!
comment i meant :-))
Post a Comment