d-press 101

Gone are the days when news makers such as the late President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, President Reagan was shot by a Jodie Foster fan who was reported to have mental disorder…and gone are the days when Martin Luther King Jr. had hardly kept his leadership for civil rights movement, appearing wherever there is injustice, racism and political turmoil and following non-violent practices to eradicate racial discrimination.

Here now proclaimed the 44th President of the United States of America - no less than a man who made a milestone for the African-American community in America, the first black President ever to seat at the White House by January next year, he’s no other than this undeniably famous Democrat Barack Obama.

Barack Obama – the name in which millions of Africans and white men in US had celebrated the moment that the race closed in (well, even during the campaign). The catch is, it seemed that he is so totally charismatic that even ‘whites’ have voted for him to be the next highest ruling officer of one of the most powerful country in the globe, and even surpassed the required 150 electoral votes in this US Presidential race.

Well, I am no media personality or political analyst either, but let’s accept the fact that this momentous Presidential race of 2008 was dubbed as “one of the most historic,” “most watched,” and “one among the hottest political issues in town“…..and why not??? Well, there may be thousands of commentators who may critique and give opinion on such.

I don’t know but Obama’s charisma and appeal effectively magnetized the crowd “to go on, vote for me.”

CHANGE WE NEED* as his campaign slogan.

To further this fierce and heart-pumping Presidential race, John McCain (in my opinion) had been a good chick and competitor for 2008 – a prisoner of war he is. A charismatic Obama versus the prisoner of war John McCain? What if Clinton won the primary? Would it be McCain or Clinton who will make it at the White House? Or maybe McCain, a Republican might predictably defeated Clinton from the Democrats?

Anyway, I’m not ending this entry with those political whereabouts! Since I am writing on this so-called “historic Presidential race in America“, I might as well share you the 3-part special of THE CHOICE 2008 aired over Studio 23 last November 2-4. If it was really historical and Barack Obama made history and a “milestone” for the black American community, he have done that before way back when he was in Harvard University. In fact, he became the first black to spearhead the very prestigious Harvard Law Review – a publication in Harvard Law School which was obviously dominated by white men…..and mind you, that ‘phenomenon’ became a national news.

And if Obama’s charm or maybe his black appeal had been the key to his domain, he did it and in fact served in Chicago ( the capital of African-American community in USA) as a community worker serving his fellow black Americans. That maybe an act of social work, or maybe….courting the community to win their hearts where later became his strong bailiwick for his presidency. He resided in Chicago for good weeks to teach what he have gained in law school as well as doing charity works back in 80s.

….today, I wonder why Americans voted for this black man and why London and other European countries have celebrated over his triumph….Do Americans just wanted to push through Obama to seat at the White House and finally cut off the political lines of White men – all from Washington to Bush? Do they fight for Obama so as to make history – the first black President of the United States? Or the world just really believed in racial discrimination that still existing?..Well, think of what Martin Luther said: The Negro needs the white man to free him from his fears. The white man needs the Negro to free him from his guilt.

Not standing as an Obama fun and I may sound really subjective though, but Barack Obama’s victory signaled that color should not be the sole basis….that someone’s origin should not be a hindrance….that racial discrimination should be erased and be finally cut off, if not ended!

Well, that’s the dilemma – I believe that Barack Obama was hardly affected with this airing political racism that have existed in Harvard during his college days….better that Obama won the race so as to prove and emphasize what Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.”

I am hoping that amidst all of the crises that the world is experiencing, hope that his triumph will also be the key to freed countries from financial turmoil, racism and war. Instead, every country and every one must unite for peace and progress (even just a little)..

In fact, Asian stocks up on Obama’s win yesterday and our very own Madame President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had immediately reminded the newly elected Obama that her country’s tie-up with the US will continue (nah! for what reason???) Well, our beloved President was just too dependent to pursue such things especially when she’s crumpled with issues of corruption and inflation!

*Obama had indeed made a “history” - a milestone for himself, for the African-American community and for the world!