Well it's still incredible it has happened. Am now very proud of a blog entry I made two years ago,
although I am even more proud that the american voters have overcome prejudice and cynicism. I have to say I am not a fan of Jesse Jackson, but was touched when I saw the BBC report of Obama's victory speech and seeing a shot of Jackson with tears streaming down his face and I was thinking of Martin Luther King, whom Jackson was a friend of. King said the night before he was assassinated that he might not get to the Promised Land with his audience but that he had seen it, I wonder if this moment, this election, is partly what Dr. King meant.
My thoughts are also with John McCain. As an opponent I regarded him with respect, and his attitude towards those of us who supported Obama was reciprocated and it showed in his acceptance speech. What a pity therefore that some of his supporters do not share that graciousness. Hopefully, if they don't allow themselves to get too bitter, they will learn from this.
So here's to a new start for us all
5 comments:
I thought the reaction of some of the crowd at McCain's wonderfully gracious speech was truly one to inspire despair. I was very pleased that McCain tried to slap it down but that it occured at least twice in the speech was horrible to hear. I'm thrilled that Obama won, glad for everyone that election 2008 is finally over (it seems to have been going on forever!), and wish that the future of politics in the USA were able to be as gracious as both McCain and Obama were able to be...
Good post, Paul, and what a neat piece of political punditry! I wonder if politicschimpette ever finished her book.
Don't get me wrong I think that America has chosen right in Obama he is closer to Centre than I think any President in my life time. I am however slightly worried, to quote Gordon Brown from his Labour conference speech, “This is no time for a novice"
It is also slightly concerning that the president; the senate and the house are all blue thankfully there was not a full majority in the Senate or the wild notions of one parties Conservative policy could be passed through unchecked.
I mean how progressive can a party be if one of their key states California has voted to ban same sex marriage on the same day they voted for a new president. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7711127.stm
And all this talk of change well Mao Tse-Tung is famous for saying "Change must come from the barrel of a gun" he spent all his life and still is talking about change and look where that has got China.
I think a lot of people will be disappointed soon, expecting that in will come Obama and all the problems will be solved. America will still fight to control the Oil in Iraq they need to it gives them the "Power". Taxes will rise Obama said he will rise taxes. These rises will hit everyone not just the "So called rich" We have seen it in our own country with the 10p tax issue.
Apart from all that how was people Bonfire night
I do think that Obama was the right man for the job but I'm not so sure that Americans have gotton over their predjucies - wasn't it basically the black vote that got him where he is?
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