Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Obama Victory Catalyzes European Racial Introspection

After Obama's victory, different European countries are now facing a grim fact: that they, themselves, are far away from a French or an Italian Obama-like figure; that they, themselves, have deep-seated problems with racism and can no longer claim that at least they are better about it than the U.S.

Or, so says an article from the NYTimes.

1 comment:

Angie Van De Merwe said...

I have already written that I think that what has happened has been a great victory for equal rights in this country and I applaud it! And I am so grateful that it is making an impact on those outside our borders...

That being said, one statement stood out to me, probably because it was a drawback, as far as I was concerned with an Obama presidency, and it was made by a British politician about how only in America could Obama make a good speech and win the presidency! He went on to say that to win a seat in Parliament, you have to make it up through the ranks. What is so bad about experience? Doesn't getting the presidency only because you have good rhetorical skills and the money to run the campaign (or the connections) say something that is wrong about our system or our values? Friday before the election, CNN had a discussion about how "no one knows anything really about Obama". Now, he is our president. I am glad that he represents the American ideals of equality, hard work, diligence,and educational attainment. And I am hoping and believing that that is enough...