Illustration by B HeineColour should not make a difference in an ideal world. Sadly, we do not live in an ideal world. I woke up at 6am this morning and watched CNN. Sure enough as predicted, Barack Obama achieved a landslide victory. I look over the pond to the US because I find their ideas far more advanced, the people are friendly and welcoming and they have a sense of community. This differs from the UK's fragmented society that is devoid of inspiration and hope.
The only issues that move the hearts of those in the UK is football, Jonathan Ross or perhaps the Iraq War. Human rights and civil rights tend to be a big turn off.
So in summary, I like the progressive, positive, hopeful attitude of the United States. Indeed, I don't spend my time on the BBC website, I tend to concentrate on CNN News and Aljeezera for a more open minded view of the world around us. They US have a sort of carefree attitude where they care about what happens to their country. People actually get excited about elections, about the future and do think about change. No one would wake up to vote in this country. Most of those in Parliament are not even worth voting for. We compare the likes of Senator Obama with the dry and uninspiring Andrew Mitchell. The UK is wilting through a total lack of inspiration.
The only issues that move the hearts of those in the UK is football, Jonathan Ross or perhaps the Iraq War. Human rights and civil rights tend to be a big turn off.
So in summary, I like the progressive, positive, hopeful attitude of the United States. Indeed, I don't spend my time on the BBC website, I tend to concentrate on CNN News and Aljeezera for a more open minded view of the world around us. They US have a sort of carefree attitude where they care about what happens to their country. People actually get excited about elections, about the future and do think about change. No one would wake up to vote in this country. Most of those in Parliament are not even worth voting for. We compare the likes of Senator Obama with the dry and uninspiring Andrew Mitchell. The UK is wilting through a total lack of inspiration.
Anyway, whether we love or hate Obama, it is a historical day - ie one where a black person made it to the White House. It is rather like the landing on the moon or any other historical day where everyone will ask " What were you doing on that day"?.
The Telegraph had a good take on this. The article is about times of the past and Martin Luther King.
The Telegraph had a good take on this. The article is about times of the past and Martin Luther King.
"The civil-right leader's 81-year-old sister, Christine, added: "I'm thinking about that night in Memphis when he gave that great speech.
Tonight, we are about there in the promised land."
John Lewis, a congressman who was beaten in Selma, Alabama during civil rights disturbances in the 1960s said that Mr King must be "looking down from heaven". He said: "When I was walking across that bridge 43 years ago when we were beaten, left bloody, unconscious, if I had known that one day I would be here making Barack Obama the next president of the United States. It is unbelievable."
So, I suspect the US has seen a sea of change because it has moved on. By contrast, the UK is seen to embrace equality publicly but the situation is quite different privately. Colour does make a difference in the UK.
So the US has turned a corner, the UK is yet to follow in the footsteps of progress. It will be a long time before the UK accepts a person of colour in 10 Downing Street.
So the US has turned a corner, the UK is yet to follow in the footsteps of progress. It will be a long time before the UK accepts a person of colour in 10 Downing Street.
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent" Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the UK it is the 5th November 2008, Traditionally Bonfire Night - Guy Fawkes Day. Some people don't need gun powder to change the future. The firepower of words was certainly shown by Martin Luther King.
3 comments:
Hmmm...
A little rose tinted I think.
Firstly, I believe you have given the Americans a little too much credit for being progressive. Whilst it may not be the case in some parts of the US, in other parts, colour does matter and there will be many people over there today who will be thinking that the country has gone to the dogs because a black man has taken over.
Don't get me wrong, I am an Obama supporter. I think the guy will make a huge difference to the US presidency and that after a couple of hundred years of inbreeding (5 US presidents have been related to eachother so far), it is about time the US presidency got some new blood and some new ideas.
Couple of things worth noting. For me, Obama's election win is a little bitter sweet. I no longer have 4 years of Sarah Palin jokes to look forward to but hey, there is always the chance of Palin in 2012 :-) One commentator hit the nail on the head this morning. They said that Palin contributed to Obama's win because she scared Republicans into voting Democrat. I'd have to agree.
As for Britain voting in a black PM, you are probably correct. It probably wont happen any time soon but not because the people wouldnt vote. It would be because of the way the parliamentary system is set up. It doesnt lead itself to voting for individuals and the figurehead of the party is nominated by the party. Most of those are pretty much closed shops.
Anyway, I digress... the real reason for posting today was just to say Happy Birthday :-)
You're right, colour shouldn't make a difference, but BLOODY HELL it does. I am sick to death of hearing that Obama is the first black or African American president. No shit? Like we couldn't tell that by looking at the guy, eh?
Because, for those of us who truly don't think that race or colour is an issue, that's a total non-story. The ONLY thing that matters to me is whether he's going to be any good at the job, but the rest of the world wants to harp on about his skin colour.
And that's going to be a big problem down the line, because I suspect he probably ISN'T going to be very good at his job. Having been unable to avoid watching his campaign for the past few weeks, he strikes me as having a very good sincerity act while lacking even the minimal actual sincerity present in other politicians.
Remember that sleazy Tony Blair learned his campaign tricks from Bill Clinton's team, compare his landslide victory with Obama's then sketch in his sharp exit a few years later. Good spiel and a big grin does not a leader make!
Even if he turns out to be OKish at what he does, the only way to go from such a meteoric rise is down, and he hasn't exactly inherited the most favourable conditions to work with, has he? When people begin to realise that outside fairlyland the world is still a nasty place, and that not even Obama can cure it's problems at a stroke, the sparkle will fade and his popularity will wane.
Fair enough, that happens to all politicians. But this one will still be dragging with him the label of first black president, whether he wants it or not, and those people to whom colour DOES matter will be watching with a sour gaze.
It won't be Obama that screws things up, or fails to unscrew the current mess. It won't even be his party. Purely because of the hype associated with him, it will be the first black president. And from there, it won't be a very big leap towards the aforesaid colour conscious voters deciding they don't want another of those for a while, thank you very much.
For all it's a momentous occasion that the USA should be proud of, overdoing the hype (even by the standards of a society that runs on hype) risks destroying Obama's historic achievement and setting race relations in the states back a very long way. Best to leave him alone, let him get on with the job and see how he does, then judge him on that.
As for what I was doing the day he got elected - I was trying to avoid the news. It was hardly a surprise result, was it? A man with the verbal dexterity of Arthur Daly was never going to find much of a challenge in out-talking and out-glitzing someone who reminded me of a mechanical penguin, no matter how heroic he was. Neither choice inspired me, and I feel rather sorry that the American people were forced to choose between two such obviously poor candidates.
Still, that's what happens when you have a society driven by enthusiasm and hype. People are sold the dream, and don't find out it's a nightmare until way past breakfast time. Caveat emptor!
Sorry to have to add these links:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3474135/Racial-incidents-sour-Barack-Obamas-victory.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5172285.ece
There are quite a few more, but you get the general gist of it all. Unfortunatey it all supports my earlier posting.
Again, my disclaimer, I do not support any of the negative sentiment in these newspaper reports but just wanted to show that all is not peachy in the land of the free.
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