November 16, 2008
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I went to see my doctor for an annual check up. At the doctor office I met an old lady. We chatted a little bit.
I do not pay much attention to politics, even though I am aware that being uninterested in politics can be perceived as being dull or dim wit. I am content with having a job, food, clothes, housing, and reasonable healthcare. As long as my usual sense of security is not threatened, I am fine with whoever is going to be my leader. I was reading Newsweek magazine in which there was a very interesting article of how the new President Obama’s campaign managed to victory. In the article there were pictures to show people’s elation in many rallies. A few days earlier, I had read the victory speech that the President spoke right after the election and also had translated an excerpt of the book “Obama: The dreams from my father” for the e-magazine Da Mau. I was impressed with his writing. He had the gift to touch people’s heart whether in speaking or in writing. I enjoyed his book as good writing from a good writer. It does not give me a feeling that this is a political agenda written by a politician.
The old lady, who is black, saw that I read the article, she commented: “I hope they protect him well. I fear for his life. There are many crazy people out there.” I agreed with her. If whatever unimaginable act happened to the new President, I think there will be unimaginable chaos. I also hope that the country does not put too much hope for the country’s future on the President’s shoulder expecting in four year the President will be able to cure all the illnesses of the country, to heal the rift between races, to bring back prosperity, restore the nation as the world’s leader, and so on.
When I got into the examination room, the nurse, who is white, commented loudly. “I am not too crazy about the new President. I think the economy raises and falls by itself through its own cycle. The President does not have anything to do with economy or the welfare of the people. The power is in the Congress.” I smiled and said “uhuh” because I do not know politics enough to agree or oppose and part of me, I was glad that I did not know enough or I was not passionate enough to make an argument. The good thing out of my dull intelligence is that the peace between me and the nurse is intact.
However, there is one thing that is prominent in my mind. Americans show that they have changed so much since the day of the assasination of Martin Luther King and that they look beyond race to do good for the country. To see this happening in my life time is astounding and I remember what the lady Ann Nixon Cooper said: “Isn’t it something?”
Yes. It is something to marvel in my life time.
Comments (4)
Bless you.
a well written blog…… I agree with your concerns for this presidency and I am glad to see that you find a difference and look beyond race -and certainly there is from the a difference from the’I have a dream ‘speech..
Looking at your country from afar, from our multicultural population we can ‘see’ that there is a very long way to go till the US actually looks beyond race. We see the States from a bigger picture than Americans often see. One EU TV newsgroup interviewed people coming from a Palin gathering and the words these middle-class white Americans spoke were completely disturbing ……and it was about race. My goodness when we speak in terms of Bravo about even noticing that someone elected to office is not white that surely is a sign that there is something lurking below. It is called bias, or prejudice. It is still there you are all just too close to see it.
Good Morning! I’m happy to hear that you take care of yourself. Normally I feel just as you do, I believe in the live and let live, as long as what you do doesn’t upset my life. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
“The good thing out of my dull intelligence is that the peace between me and the nurse is intact.” This is so you. Smooth.