In 2008, America celebrated a milestone in our country's ever increasing urge of equality, the election of our first African-American President. Barack Obama, became the first African American president of the United States. Something some beleived would never happen. Besides his skin color however, i see no difference in Barack Obama then i do with the white candidates for president. In all honesty, what is different? He makes promises he doesnt keep, makes motivational speeches when only when hes up to it, and the economy is still in the gutter. The only real difference between our president and those of the past is his popularity. And that can be chalked up to the wirring uneducated followers of his skin color, not his polotical views. This of course is all speculation, and to quote me as fact, would be not only false, but unreliable.
Barack Obama will win the primary vote again in 2012. Anyone denying that is delusional. But can we honestly say its because that many people agree with his polotics? Or is it because they're jumping on the equality/ethnicity bandwagon trailing from Illinois to Washington. Dont misunderstand me, i've got nothing against the guy besides the regular grumblings of a non-voter towards his elected officials. My real problems with America, how many people today could list off the cabinet? Or all the Justices on the Supreme Court? Hell list me off the Bill of Rights and ill give you a gold star. Again, im not trying to disuade into thinking im agains the presidency or the government at all. But if we cant understand our leader, how in the world are we supposed to elect them?
Were not, to be frank. I have come to the conclusion that the majority of America isn't there to vote for whom they beleive will be their strongest leader, or even to vote for their party. No, the way i see it, the vast majority of Americans are there to ooo and aaa at the pretty lights and check the box next to the right name. The popular vote, if not the entire presidency, is a popularity contest. If your smiles white, and your teeth shine, hey there's one state. If you're good at public speaking there's another. You know why Ronald Reagan got through politics so well? Man was an actor, and the best actors, are in politics. I doubt that 50-60% of the people walking out of a public speaking of a presedential candidate could tell you what the speech was actually focused on beyond "Pro Life or Pro Choice" as their explanation. But im sure if you asked who they were voting for they wouldnt hesitate to tell you, it was that gentleman who just stirred their hearts with the very words they can't remember not 5 minutes later.
And another thing, should we really celebrate Barack Obama as the first African American president? Of course he is, and that should be something to cheer abou in America, but should we be proud of that fact? the fact that racial issues and tension have held back the ethnic and cultural advancement of an entire population of African Americas? One of the largest ethnicity in these United States? No. Thats my opinion. For all intensive purposes we should be the laughing stock of the civilized world. While we celebrate over the rise of our first "ethnicly diverse" president and the freedom for things like gay marraige, country's like Great Britain have already elected a female Prime Minister, and our neighbor to the north Canada has sanctioned gay marriage years ago. Are we so backwards that an African American President was a huge step for the racial aspect of America? I shudder to think that the election of Baack Obama caused a bigger stir in the ethnic and racial forums of America, than where his political views and polocies may have layed.
isn't it interesting when we are trying not to be racist but yet we make such a deal of the president's ethnicity? What if he was indian? chinese? south american? english? I think people need to figure out what the want.
ReplyDelete~thiago
Matt- you bring up a ton of issues here. It sounds like you are quite turned on by politics, so the next time I hear you say that you hate politics I'll know that you are not being entirely truthful :)
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, I agree with a great deal of your points, and I disagree with a bunch as well. There really is no difference between Barack Obama and the other candidates, aside from his policies and yes, his skin color. There are those who would say that his skin color was what got him elected, as it was the public's desire to elect the first African-American president. I see nothing wrong with this- working together to break a historical barrier can be exciting and intoxicating. The dust has definitely settled, however, and I think that people are a bit disillusioned by the lack of economic promise. Also, Obama has made some bold moves in the White House, top among them his pushing of nationalized healthcare, which has drawn the ire of many American voters. All in all, I would say that the expectations for Obama coming into the office of President were sky-high, but the reality is that he had only served a single term as a U.S. Senator from Illinois. In a lot of instances, you can see his lack of experience coming through. He did not deal with the Gulf oil spill in a deft manner, and he left himself open to a great deal of public criticism. It will be interesting to see how he plays out the rest of his term (and possibly beyond).
I think if he does get a second term, he will prob do way way better...
ReplyDeleteI like the thought of breaking a historical race barrier in not only one race but all races. Threat them all equally special. Because they are all special in their own way, but their specialness balances out with each other. So let's settle down, with the race thing. If we are to make things fair, we shouldnt exclude anybody in the special treatments department, let's make everyone feel special and out EVERYONE, not just whites or blacks, asians, greens or reds, in the spotlight.
we're are equal humans, world residents.
http://www.worldcitizens.org/goals.html