The US national election is getting closer and closer, and some political analysts are getting closer to losing their minds as their jobs of analyzing, predicting, and recommending strategies reaching the highest peak. Today, it is the Dem. National Convention and next week will be the Republican convention, but why is Race a major indicator of this race?
Race and Politics
While the US national election is getting closer to picking a man for the job, race remains a very serious issue. Race is like a "taboo" when it comes to US politics; elected politicians and members of the public are so cautious when it comes to speaking on issues relating to race. Any element of speech that implies race, is taken apart and analyzed, and purified to ensure that racism wasn't the intended implication(s). Why? it is because the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barrack Hussein Obama, is the first "black man (half-black)" to be a presidential nominee of a major party. He too is burdened with the notion that words uttered must be pure and no rooms should be left to implicate race. He speaks softly and gently as if rehearsing the words in his mind before saying them; by so doing, analysts argue that Sen. Obama doesn't know the issues half the time. But it is more than that, pausing, umming, and aahing, are all careful transitions the candidate uses to put a break to his statements as he weeds out the possible racial connotations of his words.
How about Sen. John Cain (the Republican nominee)? He is also careful about what he say to the media. Despite his reputation as a maverick and and experience in the Senate, his rethoric are also careful picked to avoid any implication of race. When someone in his camp mentioned race, he is always quick to denounce it.
Truth about Race
Race is an eternal curse of US society. US is a country built on racial segregation, and racial division existed longer than racial integration and such history will linger for another century or even a thousand years . The effort by political leaders to eradicate racism from the minds and hearts of Americans is wonderful battle, but maybe a battle that can't be won by this or the next generations. But let us be serious about this controversial issue, race is still here.
It is important to note that race is here; it may not be in everyone's minds and hearts, but its here. There had never been a time in the history of the birth of the US when race is extremely critical, than today. It is important also to know that not all Americans do subscribed to this old lifestyle, but many do hold it to heart in different avenues. Sen. Obama's rise to the top of the Political hierarchy (esp. with colored people and eventually to the top of the nation), brings to the front the nature of race and how it still lingering in the hearts of, especially, old-timers, and impacting our lives one way of another. Not only do white people have mixed feelings about Sen. Obama, but black people are voting in mass (90+%) for the first successful colored presidential nominee in US history, simply because they are black. This is pure racial division also.
There are white people who won't vote for Sen. Obama just as more black people will vote for him for the sake of his color and for making history that was impossible in the last 40 years. There are those who hides their feelings toward Sen. Obama's race through the "inexperience," or the "lack of knowledge on various issues" sentiments. On the flip-side, there are blacks who just don't want Sen. McCain just because they are black and camouflaged their racial views with "he's too old" or "hes an insider" that won't change American, sentiments. Somewhere in these luggages lies the real issue of race, and when the polls are closed, the elections will be viewed as the most balanced, fair election of all times; race will again avoided regardless of who wins in November.
Danger of Being Black There is no doubt that Sen. Obama is truthful about his love for United States, but his color maybe the most dangerous thing for the US. It maybe true that Sen. Obama loves this country as demonstrated through out his campaign in the Democratic primary, but some have wondered why Sen. Obama associated himself with controversial figures such as Rev. J. Wright and L. Farrakhan in the past. In the beginning, when questions over these associations bubbled up, Sen. Obama fought to defend them, calling these associations as mere friendships and claimed these people were closer to him as family members. Though, Sen. Obama denounced these men's negative attitude toward America (by way of political rhetoric) his frienship with them have scarred his reputation and will haunt him in years to come.
There is no doubt that Sen. Obama needed this friendship and association with controversial figure, to get to where he is today. It is highly unlikely that he had eyes to the Presidential race when he just got out of Harvard law second. He never seemed to have his attention toward the White-House or else (being a constitutional lawyer) he should have known by then that these men would be his major problems in the race for the White House. If he had contemplated this, he would have avoided any relationship with other controversial friends such as Rezko who is currently in federal court for a number of charges, notorious of which are money laundary and tax evasion, and Bill Ayers. Now it is important to go back and see why he needed them. Unlike sons of prominent people, such as Sen. McCain, Ted Kennedy and others, who entered prominence the time they were born, Sen. Obama needed to find himself and rise slowly through the ladder of politics using different avenues.
Getting to know and work with the community was an important start. With that Rev. Wright was the instrument in his hands. Embracing him as a member of his Church, Wrights elavated Sen. Obama's reputation and credentials. Church members saw him as a wonderful man whose main interest and passion is to fight poverty and organized community based projects with all his might. In the end, Obama stood out of the black community and became a local policitian (State). His impressive performance inspired a few people who pushed him to join the presidential race. He had achieved his goal, but way too far from his dreams. Today, Sen. Obama's main task, beside winning the presidential election, is to gain the trust of those who never knew him or questioned his many affiliations and to show America that he is up for the job.
Yet, the greatest danger that Obama brings to America is his own name and race. While some analysts believe Sen. Obama's victory will reshape American image internationally, the negative impact(s) must not be under-estimated. Countries around the Middle East have already predicted that Sen. Obama will be easier to work with than a white man, echoing Sen. Obama's own word that he would give diplomacy a huge chance, even in stubborn nations such as Iran. The fact that his name sounds Arabic, the Middle East may see Obama as one of their own, therefore undermining US authority and superiority, not only in the ME, but also through out the world. The world view of Obama will be nothing but "ordinary" and mere "simple." And if this couples with Sen. Obamas diplomacy game-plan, the US will be extremely weak and incompetent in the international arena.
Sen. McCain is a Maverick and Dangerous!The former Prisoner-of-War (POW) in Vietnam is a dubbed the "maverick" of the US Senate. His colleagues have described him as a straight talker, but someone who is not afraid of showing his anger to those around him. Sen. McCain uses the word "experience," especially in the area of foreign policy, as his campaign mantra, but it is obvious that Sen. McCain main area of expertise is in the military and decision making when it comes to military confrontation with countries around the world. He openly stated that he is not good in handling the economy, but saying this at a time when the US economy is on the brink of a recession got US people frowned.
If his area of expertise is in the military, then he is a very dangerous candidate for the presidential job. The Russian invasion of Georgia brought out the Hawk in Sen. McCain, who, after hours of the Russian invasion of Georgia, condemning Russia and called for consequences to Russians atrocity.
Though such statement is well received by many, especially conservative critics, it characterizes the radical view of Sen. McCain when it comes to war.
President and War
The next president will do face a monumental task, especially in making complicated decisions for US. President Bush has roughly two months to go and he will hand over the responsibility of the country to his successor. He will leave behind a few messed-up, unfinished chores: an unpopular war against so-called "terror", an economy slowly heading toward a recession, a surge in fuel price that drives inflation and unemployment up in recent months, and a possible out-right war against one of its former ally and onetime arch-enemy, Russia.
As of today, a US warship was heading toward Poti, a Georgian port that was destroyed and now manned by Russian soldiers. The US government claims that the warship is carrying relief aids to displaced Georgians who suffered the weeks old war between Russian and Georgian forces. The Russians, on the other hand, claimed that that Warship is carrying weapons to Georgia. While the Warship and war of words raging on, one would wonder how the two leaders will take on Russia.
It is obvious, though, that Sen. Obama's approach to Russia will be purely diplomacy graced with harsh political rhetoric. Sen. McCain is absolutely unpredictable. But with the US Armed Forces fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, while facing the threat of the rising Iran theocratic regime, no one can't imagine President. McCain taking on the Russians in defense of Georgia. But if Sen. McCain vows to bring OML to justice (even if he followed him to the gates of hell-paraphrase), then there will nothing standing in his way that will stop him from taking on a man whom he dislike, Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.
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