Obama

[vaneramos]

Leading up to the Canadian Federal election on October 14, it annoyed me that so many of my compatriots seemed less interested in its outcome than in the American Presidential race. Suddenly I realize why; it's more than societal ADD.

For many years the President of the United States was arguably the most powerful person on the planet. He was invariably male and Caucasian. Recently, lack of genuine leadership and vision has deteriorated and degraded that power.

I have reservations about Barack Obama. I picked this up from a Liberal-thinking American friend who is utterly dismayed with the state of democracy in her country, and feels little admiration for the politician who rides to victory on the hugest fundraising surge in Presidential history. Sadly, it's still about connections.

But. The fact that he is African-American must change the way Americans think about themselves. It might bring the United States more credibility on the international field. Perhaps it will even subtly change our self-perceptions as a species. Personally, I feel less cynical about our capacity for change than I did a few months ago. I hope it's a nudge in the right direction.

On the other hand, the best part is that the campaign is over. I've seen too much of the blatant hatred that sometimes masquerades as American patriotism.

Comments

[e-musings.livejournal.com]

I was slow to accept Obama as my choice for president. In the early days, I liked Biden or Richardson. As the primaries progressed, my choice was between Clinton or Obama. I struggled with this decision as neither one inspired me. I voted for Clinton because I liked her enough and I wanted Bill back in the White House.

Clinton lost, and I knew I would vote for Obama because I am a yellow dog Democrat and would Never Ever vote for a Republican for president ever ever.
I went through the motions of support, but didn't feel it until way into the campaign.

Last night, I felt hope for the first time in years. I can't tell you what that was like.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

One think about his fund raising is that the organization reached very widely so that an unprecedented number of people gave money and many were small contributions. Many more young people got involved in his campaign thus reversing a huge trend in voter apathy especially among the younger set and that is a good sign for democracy.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

I too feel hopeful.

By gosh, that is a lovely burning bush.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I can't help feeling it somewhat. Here in Canada we live in a vast shadow, social and political.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. They are good signs.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Captured at dawn in Toronto en route to catch a bus to work. It was lovely to see.

[inishglora.livejournal.com]

You got that right. The sheer immaturity of the partisans here is staggering. They mangle the opposing party's candidate's name deliberately to show contempt, and it's simply juvenile. Nobama. McCrankypants. Etc...

Honestly, people!

Although Caribou Barbie made me laugh.

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

I was going to say the same thing. Obama built his campaign on a number of solid principles, and one of them was to restrict the fundraising to contributions from individuals. That he raised such a huge campaign fund speaks to the pent-up frustration of so many individual Americans who have felt shut out of th epolitical process, but who wanted to becoem part of what Obama represented. Their millions of five and ten dollar contributions added up to a torrent of funds that made Obama's campaign possible. But the real value is in the empowerment of all those people who went from feeling "I'm only one person, what can I do?" to somebody saying "Yes, we can" and having the proof from the election to show for it.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That is a sign of good leadership. It would be more encouraging if all my liberal American friends were in agreement that Obama is a highly progressive thinker. I'm not hearing that. What about his stance on same-sex marriage?