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I would just like to put a view on the American election result from a back water in darkest Yorkshire. That a black person should win would have been unthinkable as little as 5 years ago when you look at America’s history. If somebody had asked me five years ago whether I thought there would be a black president of the USA in the next 50 years and I would have said, ‘ very unlikely’ in fact I would have probably said, ‘not a hope in hell!’ because of America’s history. I still find it difficult to believe that this has actually happened.
In the middle of the last century Billie Holliday sang a song called ‘Strange Fruit’. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs
“Strange Fruit” began as a poem written by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish high-school teacher from the Bronx, about the lynching of two black men.
I in a deluded sort of way still consider myself quite young but I remember how things were like in America in the 1960s and it wasn’t so long ago that somebody was brought to justice by the American courts for a murder he committed back then.
I know the United Kingdom has had a woman prime minister but this is in a different league. I believe Margaret Thatcher was really a man! Well she showed plenty of male traits anyway. I believed there was an inherent racism in the American people. I know there is in Britain. I didn’t think that America was ready to have a black president.
So how the hell did Barack Abama manage to do it? He is definitely an eloquent speaker but it’s what comes out of his mouth that matters. He has definitely captured the mood of the nation. Media stars decided to back him, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young to name but two. Neil Young came out with an album called, ‘ Living with the War’ in 2006. In it there was a song called ‘ Lookin’ for a leader’ with the line ‘maybe it’s a woman or a black man after all?’. Prophetic or inspirational? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQqUwuN4N4
The American election seems to have been going on for an age. His epic contest with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination just seemed to go on and on. At one point she offered him vice president but only because he was winning and unsurprisingly he refused.
Next he came up against John McCain for the presidency. To me John McCain seems a nice chap but he made a mistake nominating Sarah Palin for vice president. She energised already committed republican voters but pushed any people sitting on the fence over to the Democratic side. He was also from the same party as a very unpopular president which didn’t help him.
Then there was the collapse of the banks weeks before the election, the credit crunch. Everything conspired to make the impossible possible!
I know that in America socialism is a dirty word but my head has always been on the side of socialism. Compassionate socialism has always been the ideal for me. Barack Abama is the closest thing to a socialist there has ever been in the United States so I had always wanted him to win. Even if he had been white I would have wanted him to win so I am happy!
He even made George W. Bush sound gracious when talking about the transferal of power which is something I thought would never happen.
Listening to him speak for the first time in many years I actually believe things could be on the up. For the first time in a long time I am optimistic. Maybe in time I will be disillusioned but at least I am allowing myself the opportunity to be disillusioned. Let us hope he is well protected and doesn’t go the same way of other charismatic leaders.
November 9, 2008 |
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sjoukes, Women November 11, 2008 12:20 pm
very well put Saltpye3, (and I know the song strange fruit,I have a copy of Diana Ross “Lady Sings the Blues”)…he is like a breath of fresh air after Bush, he comes across as strong, caring, loyal, with a lot of know how and intelligence and more all rolled into one…I think he will do justice to the job in hand…well done America for choosing him
I'mstillstanding, Multiple Sclerosis November 11, 2008 12:31 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more. At last there is hope, I read in the FT on Saturday that Michelle Obama’s father had MS (Does anyone know more about this?) so we may actually have a president who is charusmatic, a good person and who knows about MS. His interest in stens cells is pretty good too.
Rejoice
I’mstillstanding
Maureen, Painting/Drawing November 11, 2008 1:04 pm
Agreed. I just hope that some idiot doesn’t ruin it all. Protect him well…