THE OBAMA EFFECT IS LIVE AND LET’S LIVE

By Farouk Martins Aresa

Obama’s first obligation and of course loyalty is to the United States of America. He has said repeatedly, that there is no black, white, red or blue America but United States of America. It is born out of strong conviction of a man who inherited it from his genes. No matter what, he will be judge in history as a black man, as an African propelled into history by a new generation of young men and women regardless of race.

Unlike most young men and women who persuaded their parents to vote for Obama, some white people lied to their spouses, coworkers and friends that they were not going to vote for him, but did. Obama got his wish as predicted. Simply put, Obama Effect is the reverse of Wilder, the first US Black Governor who won by narrower margin than the polls predicted or Bradley Effect that lost when polls predicted he would win California.

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Africans who are looking forward to Obama to open up USA and reverse past economic injustice need to calm their expectations. If the rest of Americans and the world benefit, Africans will benefit. If the poor, the working class and middleclass benefit, Africans will benefit. This One, that One, Obama will be watched, analyzed and scrutinized more than any other President of United States of America in history. Obama may turn out to be the restorer of Economic and World Peace, a sentimental vindication of freed African slaves.

The greatest losers in the elevation of Obama are corrupt African leaders. They will face many insurmountable challenges from Obama representatives with bare knuckles. Unlike the sincere or insincere plea from many world leaders to employ African resources in order to salvage their people from years of neglect and little infrastructure, the fear is, Obama may be too confrontational. Rightly out of disappointment and past frustration. Not unlike those felt by Kofi Annan, Colin Powell or Marcus Garvey.

Hilary Clinton might have been looking up to heavens predicting a Messiah in jest but Obama accession will test achievability of world peace. The doctrine of saving face and not backing your enemy to the wall may be tested again. While the economic problem facing the world market today is the bread and butter issue that must be fixed before we move on, Peace On Earth may be what Obama will be remembered for. He brings global goodwill towards USA unknown since the strong condemnation of the 911 terror attack.

This is the point where all the people who see terror as their way of fighting US will face unprecedented revolts in their camps, giving peace a chance. United States is not your enemy; it is a Country made up of every being on Earth and stands a better chance of leading us to World Peace than any other Country. It will not be an effortless task but the most desirable is not the easiest attainable. Barack Hussein Obama may be the One.

Obama Effect is in fact more complicated. It is looking at one’s character and seeing its contents in the mirror without the color of an African, Asian or European per se. That is, a human character we lounge for. You agree with his logic, his message and where he stands makes sense. Others will simply put it as seeing beyond beauty of his skin. A community organizer turned caucus organizer to getting voters out before Election Day.

The question of race is a sensitive one. However, most studies and polls claimed that age and gender discrimination in US are worse than race in 2008. That has not defeated study that women as a whole, white and black benefited from affirmative action more than black males. It is as a result of lower salary for female and the fact that some people see black males as more assertive, just as white males, than females.

Nevertheless, prediction that a black male would become the President of USA before any female has become a reality. Some people even attributed this to the defeat of Hilary Clinton during the primaries. In spite of the defiant stand of a few, most of the females came back into the fold and voted for Barack Obama. Those who did not, have their reasons which may not be different from those of males who refuse to vote for Obama.

There is nothing wrong with updating traditional values so that we do not lose our sense of our culture or tradition as long as we live to let others live. That reasonable liberals, atheists or conservatives can disagree without fear of intimidation and terror. That Union, Confederate, red and blue states can find a common ground as confirmed by our youths.

What may be wrong is that most of the whites who did not vote for Obama are racist. It must be noted that most white males did not vote for either John Kerry or Bill Clinton but Obama got more votes from white males than either. It is purely a fantasy to think that America would be short of racists, just as we might expect that any Continent would be. What we may agree on is that those few racists and fanatics anywhere may be virulent.

The views of white men are now as varied as other member of the society. Within these men are those who are married to other ethnic groups, those who served or schooled in different parts of the world, those without or with foreign religions, those who gained from the curiosity of others, and philanthropists who give away most of the fortune they had made as conservative, to the world. The old notion of conservative white men, black men and yellow men are crumbling as the basis for racism fade globally.

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So when the Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania or Representative Murtha stated what they know as a fact that pocket of racists exist in certain places and Obama tried to dress them up as those who cling to God and religion, they can only be accused of imprudence. Politicians do not usually come out talking frankly to be elected, they sugarcoat the truth.

Amongst some white women and some minorities are polarized views as racist as those criticized especially when competing for benefits or positions. We see it exhibited within the new and old generation of blacks in America, amongst the Hispanics or Latinos. But it is less so within whites compared to discrimination of the old days against Irish, Italians, Polish, or Jews. The increasing number of Latinos is creating new intolerance.

Even more important is that the amounts of people who are so polarized have dwindled over the years. What are left are people fighting over a pie that is getting smaller over the years. No matter where we are, people try to protect their benefits and are reluctant to share what is left with others. It does not make it less painful to those who are denied the opportunities to provide for themselves and those who are close to them.

Whether Obama will become a great President worthy of his people will depend on how he leads the world to overcome the worst economic disaster since depression and balance it with peace and security during his reign. It is a great task for a determined young man.

Good luck Obama.