Firstly I am re-posting my blog from November 2008. This was from the day that Obama first became president. I was living in the Seychelles at the time.
‘Today has been an uplifting day. Sandra and I awoke to the story on CNN that Barack Obama was well on his way to becoming the next President of the USA. After driving the kids to school we had to stay in Victoria for the day and wandered around trying unsuccessfully to find a cup of tea somewhere. No luck. It seems nowhere opens before 9am but as we visited the market in search of liquid refreshment Sandra got a call from a friend saying it was official. McCain had thrown in the towel. Such pleasure.
We tried to find somewhere that had CNN running. The American Consular Office was closed and we tried the British High Commission Office but they only had radio, although I did enjoy the air conditioning as a respite to the 80+ degree heat outside. Eventually we made the Pirates Arms for 9 o’clock opening and I sat down to enjoy tea and a bacon sarnie, delicious, and we caught the tail end of Barack Obama’s victory speech. I must admit I am not that comfortable with American Politics. I always feel they should apologise profusely and ask permission to re-join the British Empire but no, seriously, even I have been impressed with the Democrats leaders’ attitude. As an outsider it has always seemed to me that he wanted the job … relished it even, whereas McCain comes across to me as a man who just expected the job. Oh yes McCain comes across well, professional even but Barack Obama seems to my humble eyes to have the fire and the passion.
All of the time I was watching the speech I felt a real sense of history in the making. A real ‘I remember where I was the day……’ kind of thing and I got caught up in the spirit of it whole heartedly. Sandra of course was ecstatic and after our breakfast we had to visit acquaintances in Victoria so that she could share the glad tidings. I must admit there was no one that seemed upset that McCain had lost and everyone shared the view that this election could be a real changing point in our history. Not just America but in the Seychelles and the world in general. Sandra told me that she actually felt proud to an American again. She had spent the last few years pretending to be Canadian such was her abhorrence of Bush and his policies. And I agree. All Americans should be proud today that they now have a leader who can restore their true place in the world.
And here we are 4 years later on in 2012 celebrating another Obama win. Do I feel the same? A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. I now live in the UK again although much of the last couple of years has been spent living in the States. And funnily enough it was in Ohio which has been so much in the news of late with its status as a swing state. I am also married now to my beautiful Ohioan lady Raven. And yes I feel the same.
People forget that most of our current woes (i.e. the Recession) were caused by big business, in particular the banks. These were backed up by Bush’s Republican Party allowing credit to spiral out of control. And so we saw worldwide economic meltdown. The British and European banks were as bad. And now we (and by we I mean not just Americans) are paying the price and will continue to do so for a few years yet. And it rankles me to see those same banks now starting again with their huge bonus payments. It is not Obama’s fault that tax rises and spending cuts are becoming the way of the world of late. The blame for that lies solely with the banks, big business and George Bush’s republicans. As ye reap so ye shall sow.(from Galatians 6).
People have such short memories and seem so willing to tread the same path again and it mustn’t happen. It would have under the Republicans.
And of course the Romney Republican train derailed itself with its own ludicrous domestic policy and attitude towards the voters. What they did not realize (and it was so obvious) is that America is no longer a white protestant middle class orientated society. Things have changed since the1950s. Romney lost in three main voting groups. Black Americans, Hispanic AMERICANS (I have used capitals to emphasize that they are Americans) and college educated women. All three of these groups voted overwhelmingly for Obama. And why? Because these three groups amongst others feel directly threatened by Republican ire.
I can already see people blaming the Hispanic group. Wake up America. These people are Americans too. They forget that traditional European settlers were once immigrants too. I find it distasteful that so many Americans are happy to pay these newcomers a pittance to do the low wage dirty jobs they are unwilling to do themselves and yet take umbrage when they dare to vote against what most Hispanics see as a racially intolerant Republican party. This applies also to most Black Americans. And with Republicans diabolically stupid attitudes towards abortion and rape is it any wonder that women of any intelligence would vote for a party prepared to extol and indeed legislate in a way that would make any medieval misogynist proud.
Americans 2024
People do not seem to understand that Romney’s republicans stand for greed, racial intolerance and sexual inequality. It’s there own pockets they seek to enrich. Not America’s.
And so yes I am once again happy that Obama has been re-elected. At least the man is statesmanlike and has a passion for the job whereas Romney and his motley crew came across as a mixture of ‘good ol’ boys’ and Ronald Macdonald with an unsavoury hint of greed.
So be thankful America, and the world that we can say the best man won.
© 2012 Stan Rogers. All rights reserved.
Indeed.
