“My heart for Obama, head for McCain”
- Posted on Tuesday 28 October 2008 - 11:18Henry Flomo, AfricaNews reporter in Monrovia, Liberia Photo: Senator Barack ObamaWe are just a stone throw from here to the historic day of the ensuing American Presidential election on November 4, 2008. The heat is actually on, and not only in the United States alone but here in Liberia-not really strange giving the historical ties between the two countries.
The euphoria has filled the air at every corner of the capital, Monrovia. I am just among millions who sometime question Obama’s chances at the polls. Correspondingly, I am bashed and cursed to my face, instantly. In Monrovia, you can hardly tell Obama has a challenger; it appears like a one horse race. You can almost get everyone narrating the Obama dream and history but not knowing the full name of John McCain, not even Joe Biden-Obama’s running mate. All you get is Obama, Obama, a black man, is going against “one Whiteman”. Full stop!
It has been my normal routine, though, to follow America elections; I remember spending the entire night at the information center of the American Embassy in Monrovia taking stock of every bit of the battle between Al Gore and George Bush. Of course, the Palm Beach volts delay carried us through the night, spell bound.
Notwithstanding, I can say this turn, I’ve put in enough time-record breaking - as compare to the past. And, the reasons are sort of obvious: Obama is not only of an African blood as I do, but he has a combination of superb characters with well balanced intellectual capacity, but that is just one reason. What about the fact that the process drew to the fold minorities - a female candidate, Hilary Clinton, and a son of a black man. What about the 1963 historic speech by the ever potent and ever living civil rights advocate, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, dreaming of Obama contesting the US premier job?
Before going further, let me commit myself to the doctrine of full disclosure with respect to the thesis: I am an ardent admirer of the current president of the US, George Bush in spite of the fact that I’ve a great deal of admiration for the Democratic Party of the US-that’s me!
Electoral college
Unlike past US elections, this one has got my whole self sort of mutilated between and amongst perceptions and realities. I could go on reading the ever complicated US Electoral College and listening to the historic speech of Martin Luther King prophesying African Americans-say minorities- being judged by the content of their character, not otherwise. I am also caught up in the puzzle of how minorities, as Obama, are obviously encountering difficulties in the current voters’ registration dragnet. The Palm Beach drama of the 2000 election further deepens my journey into dreamland.
My heart then begins to pound, sometime doubling its beat unavoidably, when I set off to factor in these realities and the accompanying perception that Obama is a son of a black man belonging to the “inferior race”. It keeps pounding and pondering, yet and again, reflecting vividly on the dream of the Rev. Dr. King; is Barack Obama the chosen one? Forgive me, folks, to this moment, I doubt it.
I doubt Obama will midwife this millennium-long dream of a Negro hitting the political jet pot in the US by becoming its first president in history not because I feel his rival John McCain beats him to experience or not because I feel McCain is a thousand times reliable to protect America and the world from mounting threat from heartless and marauding terrorists like those of al-Qaeda, but it’s because I refused to disabuse my mind of the obvious orthodox belief that the “Whiteman” regards the black race “inferior” thus cannot elect him president, at least not in the US.
Kofi Annan
I know that Kofi Annan pulled the trigger, to clinch the post of UN Secretary General, but that’s the UN, a somewhat toothless bull. Call me a doubting Thomas, but my heart really goes for the charismatic young man, who, in its editorial indorsing Obama’s presidency, the Washington Post referred to as deliberate but not indecisive; eloquent but a master of substance and detail; preternaturally confident but eager to hear opposing points of view. However, my very head stands out for McCain come Election Day.
I am aware Obama leads the opinion polls, sure, but John Kerry led George Bush in the opinion polls at many intervals but the latter is still in power. Obama is just up against the odds - he is a minority by pigmentation, he is just four years at Capitol Hill. But my heart is for him, though because he is my brother, venturing to break the jinx of the Negro challenge. But bring back my head; it has gone for the older guy - McCain.
If you can, deliver me from my “slumber” because my head has gone for a McCain who dismally perform at three presidential debates in which, at a point, he called Obama Mr. Government. And, another, he broke Senate protocol, referring to Obama as “this one”. Yes, my head is gone for a candidate who has chosen a somewhat comedian as a running mate, a war veteran who, at the point of global recession, can hardly toss a convincing economic policy; but has rather elected to scapegoat “Joe the Plumber” (Joe Wurzelbacher) .
Reactions
- Posted on Friday 31 October 2008 20:11I understand your sentiments Henry Flomo from Liberia's Monrovia when it comes to Senator Barack Obama- an African-American in modern day America for America's next president. It boggles many a people's minds seeing how far Obama has gone to actually be leading in the polls. Is it a political gimmick to be where he is now? Of course not. He is where he is because destiny demands it. As a nation, Americans have evolved to this great destiny. No racial inclinations will prevent this destiny. It is the Master Plan of the Gardeners of the earth.
Of all peoples, it boggles the minds of people of color in America and all over the world doubting whether or not it is true the American population is actually voting for the first America's Blackman as president! These sentiments are historical but Americans live in a new millennium and their collective consciousness has to a significant degree risen beyond racial lines.
President George W. Bush appointed the first ever, Blackman and Blackwoman to the high post of Secretary of State (Collin Powell and Condoleezza Rice respectively). That was the real first signal that Black persons have the caliber to serve in high public offices in this country. Even though Collin Powell has the qualities and the ability to be US president, his destiny was somewhere else. In fact his presence and career paved the way for Condoleezza Rice and Obama and other people of color in the future of America. Of course there have been other people of color who have contested for the US presidency before but could not reach even the big party nomination for presidential bid. Amongst these have been the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senator Carol Mosley Brown and Rev. Al Sharpton.
Modern day Americans especially the young generations have outgrown the racial divide era and are focussed on quality: in education, leadership, the capacity to deliver services to the American peoples and the capacity and goodwill to elevate the United States image abroad while building stronger, her military prowess. The are looking at the economy as a key factor in the ongoing presidential bid.
The Illinois Senator Barack Obama has been seen and observed by the majority of American citizens and others living here as the right man that bears all these qualities.
Americans are more than prepared to usher into the Oval Office quality leadership as compared to a lame-leadership that may extend the current Republican leadership another four more years. And it is not just the Republican leadership but the old washington that has kept America bogged down to the status quo at a time when America and Americans need to move ahead and along with other nations of the world, leading the New Way towards a world free of insecurity, fear and hopelessness.
Barack Obama brings a new hope to America and the world. He brings a message of positive change- a transformational paradigm shift from the old to the new American Mind where politics and how politicians will change to suit the new millennium.
If America and Americans lead the world in science and technology, in military super technology and military power, then Americans needs a new leader with a new mind and a young physical vehicle with which they can identify in changing the face of this world. With Obama America will lead the world to a new frontier in world politics.
Senator Barack Obama brings to Washington a new star of incredible hope, a new star of mutual cooperation with other nations and a new star of involving the masses in the politics of their country with renewed vigor and vision.
Obama is the only candidate with the vision and spirit to create jobs for millions of Americans because he is not just using it as a campaign-bait; he means it because he speaks from his heart.
He will deliver on healthcare and new energy technology to make the country energy independent not because he is looking for points to compete in the campaign but because he is the symbol of genuine hope crafted out of compassion for fellow Americans unlike his competitor who favors the rich and wealthy on many different fronts- giving them huge tax cuts and none for the middle class and the poor.
Obama will give tax breaks to Americans earning below $250,000 a year and believe me these are the great majority. So brother, worry not over racial issues. Americans have moved beyond that divide and are ready to match forward to a brighter future without reservations. Obama is no doubt the next President of the United States the same way after him will come a female president. Americans are ready for positive and constructive change. It is now that the tide changes history!
These are reasons why Americans are giving the Illinois Senator the ticket to the Oval Office November 04, 2008.
_footer
Voices of Africa is a training programme by Voices of Africa Media Foundation | Copyright 2009 | info@voamf.org
