I know I have pretty much disappeared off the face of the planet. School has literally taken over my life, I have not had a thought independent of my field of study in over 3 months. However recent events have caused such anger that I am compelled to speak. Obama becoming president was a historic, and wonderful moment in this countries history, one that actually brought tears to my eyes. I must admit that I was hesitant to voice that opinion, as a foreigner straddling two worlds, and also as a Multi-Ethnic West Indian accustomed to full integration of ethnicity's. I felt both conflicted at my reaction because it seemed to acknowledge the continued prejudices that ruled the states making it landmark that a man of any other race should win the election, and also inauthentic because it wasn't my countries win, partially because my country doesn't experience that particular struggle.
However I can't deny that since moving to the states and being segregated to the "African American" race class, segregating being something I feel that most Americans are compelled to do, because they cannot grasp that color doesn't always notate culture or race. ((In deference to a very good friend/former roommate I must say I don't believe ALL Americans are like this, I have several dear close friends who are American through and through and have a greater world perspective than most,)) that I have felt what I imagine most Black American face. The pressure to be smarter, work harder, simply do better to just about break even. In that vein I understood what it must have felt like, even though the more "intelligent and more evolved" blacks might not have admitted to it in public, it felt like exhaling, after holding a really long breath, it was this great big sigh of relief. To have a representative as the world leader, an intellectual, and powerful, world position that made it possible to hold your head up, and not feel as though every action was like going to war to prove something. To have someone beyond, the Will Smith's, and Denzel Washington's, but a physical representation that America had moved on from the archaic and ignorant obsession with color.
Apparently that thought was naive. The vicious nature in which Obama has been attacked recently is proof that many Americans will never move beyond the issue of color. With statements coming from George Hutchins, a North Carolina congressional candidate, saying, “America is a great nation due to our diversity, but only when this diversity is voluntary.” is evidence that certain groups in American like to profess that they are tolerant and accepting of different perspectives and race, however they are only tolerant when said variants are in a place that they feel is acceptable and controlled.
Now as a person that is trying to make a case against the demonizing of leaders, and proposing indepent thought, I must say that while I have very strong emotional ties to the challenges Obama faces and the doors he is trying to break down as a "Black" president, again a race category that isn't entirely accurate since he is of mixed race, I do separate my feeling for his challenges, from my feeling of his policies. I still as an informed resident try to separate publicity from facts, and the issues. It would be re-miss if I did not mention that I am aware that Bush faced his fair share of criticism, as did Clinton. However I felt in both cases their policies and administration were primarily attacked, with very little emphasis on their personal lives. As a Student Journalist I am also aware that with citizen journalists, and bloggers, and just about anyone with an opinion running for public office a wider variety of opinion is available to the Public than ever before; not a bad thing, information is power. Except when that opinion or information is based on personal prejudices, political biases, and plain idiocy.
The market place of ideas has been flooded with outlandish claims, and now many Americans are grabbing onto these ideas whole heartily like sheep not bothering to get facts for themselves. The health care debate has caused such an outcry, but I find it amusing that most people questioned about the health care bill can scarcely name one factual aspect of the bill. If they can name an article, their perception of it is so skewed by whatever right, or left wing nut that spoke about it, that they might as well not have an opinion.
I am still trying to understand all the aspects of the bill myself so I cannot yet articulate an opinion about it. However I have a sufficient grasp of past events to know that historically when people are faced with the unknown it is usually met with fierce opposition, from fear. Purer capitalism would entail Americans saving and owning outright everything they have, not this ludicrous materialist world where everything is bought on credit, creating a market drastically inflated. So technically America doesn't have all the answers, the financial distress the country is enduring should point to that. Not that capitalism is bad, but neither is socialism.
It is a factual concept espoused by many social anthropologists that Socialist countries have less crime. This is because the strain created by societal pressures associated with Capitalism, i.e. to attain a certain standard of living without resources to do so, heightens dissatisfaction and increases crime. There are countries like Denmark that operate a successful socialist system. I am by no means a socialist, however I think it is a brave thing to look at where you are, admit that you don't have all the answers, and look at alternatives even if they are scary, and unknown. Maybe they will not be the right solution, but perhaps they will illuminate ways that will help move you forward.
Just as Clinton did not ruin "family" by sleeping with Monica, and Bush didn't lead the country into debt, Obama cannot ruin this country, he is not the Anti-Christ. Don't allow fear to prevent you from getting educated. It is OUR choice what this country becomes. I sincerely hope that while I have used the "it sounds like and smells like" comparisons, that I am proven wrong and people's outcry are not racist. I am just one person with allot of opinion, there are many more opinions out there and most importantly intermingling is the truth. I hope that everyone will go out there and seek it.
For your reading pleasure I have listed an article about some virulent Obama opposers, an AP article addressing some socialist countries good and bad, and the official transcript from Obama's address to congress about his health care plan. All the things everyone is so afraid to look closely at. If nothing else I hope it opens a healthy and productive discourse based on fact. If you have articles or videos you think I should watch send them to me.
1. http://nymag.com/news/politics/59265/?imw=Y&f=most-viewed-24h10
2.http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/56207/list_of_socialist_countries_with_individual.html
3.http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/
Whine Fest 2009
15 years ago
