Barack Obama: A Democracy Beckon of Hope?

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Writer’s note: The following is my personal view and I apologise for any offence caused, especially to any of Obama's fans.

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“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

"It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.”

-Barack Obama’s victory speech-

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First, I would like to congratulate Mr. President-Elect Barack Obama for winning the general election and (to be)appointed as the 44th American President.

Having said that however, I cannot understand why Malaysians and the rest of the world are so 'thrilled' with the appointment of Obama. Sure, he has promised a lot of things, a lot of changes, but don't you all think that we should wait and see if he delivers, before actually celebrating?

It is true that he has been elected to hold the highest post in the American Government but let’s talk logic here… would he actually be able to change the American policies and laws which have been in existence for the past 232 years? (US Independence Day: July 4, 1776). And let’s not forget the US Congress, which consists of 86% white senators… surely they would not be so willingly in supporting policies and laws which interfere with their interest and way of life, regardless of whether they are Democrats or Republican.

One simple example of my observation; despite the never-ending efforts to abolish the country’s second amendment (i.e. “the right to keep and bear arms”), we still see Vice President Candidate holding a rifle proudly and declares that she is “pro-gun”.

So why are we full of praises for the new president – what has he done by far? True, it is a positive start for democracy when an African-American becomes a US president but before we glorify the man, perhaps we should adopt the “wait and see” approach. Let the man prove himself through his actions and not merely words. Nevertheless, I do admit that the appointment of Obama had proven that there is hope for democracy in the United States and the rest of the world.

On a personal note, one of my friend informed me the other day that one lawyer commented in the Bar Council’s website something like “See, America is good, no 'Ketuanan Orang Putih'" – well, to my ‘not so learned’ friend; as you are aware, Malaysia had just turned 51 years old last August, 180 years younger than America. If you have the need to compare the situation here in Malaysia with the current position in America, you have to be fair… you need to compare the state of affairs in America when she was 51 years old i.e. back in the 1820s. Perhaps before making such an ill-informed statement, you would like to refer to a few newspaper cuttings from the United States around that particular time...

The above reports speak for itself, don't you think? If that does not reflect “Ketuanan Orang Putih” in America, then I don’t know what does…

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