President Obama: A Phenomenon Demystified!
Sunny Chris Okenwa
November 08, 2008
If the Kenyan father of the newly-elected President of the United States of America were to be alive today (sadly he was killed in a car crash years ago) he would have perhaps regretted 'abandoning' the little Barack Obama to his mother who raised him to become today the most-celebrated mortal, the most powerful man in the world. Not a few African men in the West could pass a responsibility test with little or no true love conscience. These black fathers often dreamt of marrying white ladies outside the shores of Africa and soon after this dream was realised and kid(s) bred they began thinking of the need to have an African wife who would be ready to retire with them when aging or nostalgia set in.
In the event of this scenario playing itself out, often bizzarely, divorce or seperation or outright abandonment set in and lo and behold the white estranged 'wife' discovered to her chagrin that she had been used and dumped, used to gain one or two things that enhanced the status of her ex-husband and dumped. The presidential glorious story of Obama should serve as a wake-up call to those who exploit others for selfish or sexual purposes or ends.
America is a pragmatic country that baffles even Americans themselves. It is a strong nation where the audacity of hope is real, one historically and fundamentally strong and strongly united in national purpose. America is a model for every modern society that works, a great country at work that works others in all senses.
The Obama obsession caught up with me on the eve of the election November 4th. I kept vigil like millions across the world enthusiastically. I was enveloped with goose pimples as he delivered his acceptance speech. And the tears of joy flowing freely from the well-fed cheeks of Rev. Jesse Jackson drew me closer to nostalgic feeling of the slavery days suffered by our forebears. November 4th in the States Democracy was 'au rendesvous'! It demonstrated its beauty and beautifully won over new converts. The government of the people by the people and for the people was the ultimate winner in the US elections.
The phenomenal triumph of Obamania could be anchored on three crucial factors: history, time and the present. History in the sense that Americans love to experiment with something radically new, philosophically novel. The American electorate, ever so sophisticated, would have demonstrated a stupidity of choice if they had voted for the Republican status quo. Time was of essence because the black consciousness movement in the States has indeed come of age -- an age of maturity, of harvest. From Malcolm X to Marvin Garvey to Martin Luther King Jnr the time to actualise and give life to the dream of these late civil rights giants had come. The Obama historic victory at the polls was therefore a revolutionary idea whose time beckoned.
Talking about the present it is significant to note that after eight woeful (chaotic) years in the White House the Republican Party in general and the Bush presidency in particular has run out of steam, out of ideas. Coupled with the crippling economic crisis any other Democratic candidate would have won, Obamania or not.
John McCain was a good candidate at a wrong time, one who unfortunately found himself in a wrong political circumstance; no other candidate Republican could have done better. I salute his sense of patriotism, gallantry in defeat. He demonstrated the majesty of the American democratic system.
The Obama phenomenon is demystified as it were by its religious contradiction, its biological background, its very paternal origin. It is a background, in my critical estimation, unworthy of emulation, one that gracelessly throws up more moral questions than answers. Yet that does not by any means reduce the significance of the Obamanic triumph, a magical triumph of the human spirit against all odds! Nor should that devalue the great deserved pride of all coloured peoples around the world.
Barack Obama is neither black nor white! He is, pigmentation-wise, less black than white! Obama is much more an American than African. The only thing African in him happens to be his paternal identity. His mentality is wholly American, and his philosophy politically pro-Western. In the next four years of his reign the White House will not suddenly turn to Black House! Rather the American national interest, quite in tandem with what is always obtainable, will supercede any other interest.
An Obama presidency in the States will not suddenly trade off the American patrimony to please whosoever. It will not shy away, despite its Kenyan connection, from telling President Kibaki that he had stolen the presidential victory of Prime Minister Odinga. The new era of Obamania in the White House may not refuse, at the right time, to remind President Yar'Adua in Abuja of his illegitimate administration of power. The radicalism in Senator Obama as President come January 20th will be un-African enough to tell off petty dictators masquerading as democrats in sub-saharan Africa.
President Barack Obama will not go out of his way on assumption of office to invite the Zimbabwean controversial leader, Robert Mugabe, to White House for a dinner instead of sending the message across to him that his time is up in power, that his political chicanery can no longer be tolerated or accommodated by the civilised world. His Kenyanness will most definitely not deprive him from kicking against institutional corruption in Nairobi or the do or die politics of PDP's Nigeria.
Obama's middle name of Hussein and his muslim roots will not prevent him from continuing with even more vigour the war on terror. His presidency will not 'overnight', even while tuned to high expectations, eliminate the urban poverty afflicting many blacks in the States. He will try to succeed where others have failed but he is no magician. It will take more than 'Oba-magic' to fix the cascading fortunes of many African-Americans.
The useful lessons to be drawn and learnt from the Obama ascendancy to power in the US are many. The victory itself is instructive enough! During the gruelling bitter campaign leading to the polls no one was ever reported killed or declared missing neither did a bomb go off in the campaign headquarters of any political party. No ballot-snatching incident was ever recorded nor thugs seen intimidating voters and stuffing ballot boxes. The announcement of the election outcome was never withheld for weeks or months neither was the loser threatening fire and brimstone on account of electoral fraud.
Political or party godfatherism never played any role in the outcome. President George Bush whose failures are haunting him was boxed into a tight corner that campaigning for McCain would have been akin to celebrating failure. He never intervened at any point in time in his party's favour or influenced the electoral staff to manipulate results in McCain's favour. President Bush, despite his many mistakes in power, will forever be remembered for his courage and cow-boyish mien. He was not afraid to take on the terrorists that had sought to over-awe his administration on the 11th September 2001.
And above all the will of the American people prevailed. Primordial sentiments like race was put aside as merit took the center stage. The much-feared Tom Bradley effect did not happen. No doubt Senator Barack Obama will make a good President as he enjoys deafening broad support across the board.
This is wishing the 44th President of the free world a safe and sound presidency. Yes we can! We can make things happen together as one community of humanity under God. We can move mountains, build bridges of unity and understanding; we can triumph together against forces of colour and race, yes we can! But in the spirit of the euphoria, the spirit of Obamania one must counsel against complacency. Vigilance should be our watchworld in order for the man of the moment to avoid the JF Kennedy or Martin Luther King syndrome, a cruel treatment he does not deserve!
Long live democracy everywhere! Long live the United States of America, Obama's nay God's own country!! God bless the apostles of the change we can all believe in!!!
SOC Okenwa
soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr
In the event of this scenario playing itself out, often bizzarely, divorce or seperation or outright abandonment set in and lo and behold the white estranged 'wife' discovered to her chagrin that she had been used and dumped, used to gain one or two things that enhanced the status of her ex-husband and dumped. The presidential glorious story of Obama should serve as a wake-up call to those who exploit others for selfish or sexual purposes or ends.
America is a pragmatic country that baffles even Americans themselves. It is a strong nation where the audacity of hope is real, one historically and fundamentally strong and strongly united in national purpose. America is a model for every modern society that works, a great country at work that works others in all senses.
The Obama obsession caught up with me on the eve of the election November 4th. I kept vigil like millions across the world enthusiastically. I was enveloped with goose pimples as he delivered his acceptance speech. And the tears of joy flowing freely from the well-fed cheeks of Rev. Jesse Jackson drew me closer to nostalgic feeling of the slavery days suffered by our forebears. November 4th in the States Democracy was 'au rendesvous'! It demonstrated its beauty and beautifully won over new converts. The government of the people by the people and for the people was the ultimate winner in the US elections.
The phenomenal triumph of Obamania could be anchored on three crucial factors: history, time and the present. History in the sense that Americans love to experiment with something radically new, philosophically novel. The American electorate, ever so sophisticated, would have demonstrated a stupidity of choice if they had voted for the Republican status quo. Time was of essence because the black consciousness movement in the States has indeed come of age -- an age of maturity, of harvest. From Malcolm X to Marvin Garvey to Martin Luther King Jnr the time to actualise and give life to the dream of these late civil rights giants had come. The Obama historic victory at the polls was therefore a revolutionary idea whose time beckoned.
Talking about the present it is significant to note that after eight woeful (chaotic) years in the White House the Republican Party in general and the Bush presidency in particular has run out of steam, out of ideas. Coupled with the crippling economic crisis any other Democratic candidate would have won, Obamania or not.
John McCain was a good candidate at a wrong time, one who unfortunately found himself in a wrong political circumstance; no other candidate Republican could have done better. I salute his sense of patriotism, gallantry in defeat. He demonstrated the majesty of the American democratic system.
The Obama phenomenon is demystified as it were by its religious contradiction, its biological background, its very paternal origin. It is a background, in my critical estimation, unworthy of emulation, one that gracelessly throws up more moral questions than answers. Yet that does not by any means reduce the significance of the Obamanic triumph, a magical triumph of the human spirit against all odds! Nor should that devalue the great deserved pride of all coloured peoples around the world.
Barack Obama is neither black nor white! He is, pigmentation-wise, less black than white! Obama is much more an American than African. The only thing African in him happens to be his paternal identity. His mentality is wholly American, and his philosophy politically pro-Western. In the next four years of his reign the White House will not suddenly turn to Black House! Rather the American national interest, quite in tandem with what is always obtainable, will supercede any other interest.
An Obama presidency in the States will not suddenly trade off the American patrimony to please whosoever. It will not shy away, despite its Kenyan connection, from telling President Kibaki that he had stolen the presidential victory of Prime Minister Odinga. The new era of Obamania in the White House may not refuse, at the right time, to remind President Yar'Adua in Abuja of his illegitimate administration of power. The radicalism in Senator Obama as President come January 20th will be un-African enough to tell off petty dictators masquerading as democrats in sub-saharan Africa.
President Barack Obama will not go out of his way on assumption of office to invite the Zimbabwean controversial leader, Robert Mugabe, to White House for a dinner instead of sending the message across to him that his time is up in power, that his political chicanery can no longer be tolerated or accommodated by the civilised world. His Kenyanness will most definitely not deprive him from kicking against institutional corruption in Nairobi or the do or die politics of PDP's Nigeria.
Obama's middle name of Hussein and his muslim roots will not prevent him from continuing with even more vigour the war on terror. His presidency will not 'overnight', even while tuned to high expectations, eliminate the urban poverty afflicting many blacks in the States. He will try to succeed where others have failed but he is no magician. It will take more than 'Oba-magic' to fix the cascading fortunes of many African-Americans.
The useful lessons to be drawn and learnt from the Obama ascendancy to power in the US are many. The victory itself is instructive enough! During the gruelling bitter campaign leading to the polls no one was ever reported killed or declared missing neither did a bomb go off in the campaign headquarters of any political party. No ballot-snatching incident was ever recorded nor thugs seen intimidating voters and stuffing ballot boxes. The announcement of the election outcome was never withheld for weeks or months neither was the loser threatening fire and brimstone on account of electoral fraud.
Political or party godfatherism never played any role in the outcome. President George Bush whose failures are haunting him was boxed into a tight corner that campaigning for McCain would have been akin to celebrating failure. He never intervened at any point in time in his party's favour or influenced the electoral staff to manipulate results in McCain's favour. President Bush, despite his many mistakes in power, will forever be remembered for his courage and cow-boyish mien. He was not afraid to take on the terrorists that had sought to over-awe his administration on the 11th September 2001.
And above all the will of the American people prevailed. Primordial sentiments like race was put aside as merit took the center stage. The much-feared Tom Bradley effect did not happen. No doubt Senator Barack Obama will make a good President as he enjoys deafening broad support across the board.
This is wishing the 44th President of the free world a safe and sound presidency. Yes we can! We can make things happen together as one community of humanity under God. We can move mountains, build bridges of unity and understanding; we can triumph together against forces of colour and race, yes we can! But in the spirit of the euphoria, the spirit of Obamania one must counsel against complacency. Vigilance should be our watchworld in order for the man of the moment to avoid the JF Kennedy or Martin Luther King syndrome, a cruel treatment he does not deserve!
Long live democracy everywhere! Long live the United States of America, Obama's nay God's own country!! God bless the apostles of the change we can all believe in!!!
SOC Okenwa
soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr
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