Two letters to America
Nov 16, 2008 Rantings
In the days following the win of US Presidential-elect Barack Obama, I waited for the euphoria to die down so that I could get to the analysis stories. Being a news junkie, I am interested to listen to different takes on the historical event.
Now, I don’t know if it’s from lack of time due to my extremely busy past couple of weeks (and therefore, not being able to find many stories), but I was quite dissapointed. Most of the ones I read were the same old, same old - they could have been rehashed stories from his Democratic nomination win, for all I know.
Today, however, I came by two interesting articles related to the US Presidential elections - both on the same page in The Star - Page 3 of StarMag. Both were by StarMag’s regular columnists - Wide Angle by Huzir Sulaiman and Stray Thought by A Asohan.
Huzir wrote an open letter to Americans, congratulating them on a good choice of President-to-come - especially after the disaster that was the past eight years under the ‘W’ administration. He talks about how, although we’re not Americans, that our lives are so much influenced by them. He invokes the names of Pollock, Warhol, Miles Davis. B. B. King, David Sedaris, House of Pain - all such a global force.
Huzir wrote about Obama’s 2004 Democratic Convention keynote speech, and the latter’s talk about small miracles.
We looked around our own part of the world, and we wanted those small miracles for our own countries.
We wanted them so badly for ourselves, America, that it hurt all the more that you could enjoy them at home and yet behave in the way that you did abroad.
Then there is Asohan’s piece, a reality check of sorts. Yes, his was similar to others I have read which talks about numbers - Obama got 43% of the white vote as compared to John McCain’s 55%. And McCain’s 5% compared to Obama’s 95% of black votes (according to BBC exit polls).
But it was the last two paragraphs that resonates the most.
But the world’s declaration that America has looked beyond race in electing Obama is naive.
It is an important first step, sure, but America will only have transcended race when a white man votes for a black man, and a black man votes for a white man, without giving a damn what his skin colour is.
I don’t know if many people would agree with the two of them - if Americans will give us that wee bit of ownership of their talent, or if people still think that we’ve got a long way to go in terms of “looking beyond race”.
But for me - a Malaysian who believes in the ideals of the United States, who grew up with a lot of American influences and who followed painstakingly, the election just past (and the couple of elections before that) - it is certainly food for thought.
And that is why I love the post-europhia/buzz articles.
11.20am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: A Asohan, america, Barack Obama, Elections, huzir sulaiman, John McCain, politics, Presidential Elections, United States
Obama family: Behind the scenes
Nov 9, 2008 Sounds Like Pop
Ever since I jumped for joy celebrating Barack Obama’s win at the US Presidential Elections last week, I meant to jot down my thoughts on here. Work, and other commitments, as always, stood in the way. I also wanted to share some pictures of the Obama campaign’s promo material that my good friend, Kee Thai, so painstakingly stole got.
Today, as I started thinking about what else I wanted to write here, I realised that there is little that hasn’t been said. And besides, Mr. President-elect has already moved on and started working and I thought - it’s it time I moved on too?
Still, I can’t help but want to share this article with you, taken from the CNN 360 blog kinda of summing up what the week’s been like. In a way (different of course, considering I am not American, and neither do I live there), it pretty much speaks my thoughts. The headline, What a long, strange week it’s been, says everything.
This morning I found myself thinking back to the events that transpired on Tuesday, and nostalgically waxing about that historic day three years…wait a second…that was three DAYS ago. Tuesday itself could have been a lifetime. My mind is still stuck in overdrive frantically trying to sort and compute retrograded incoming data like those coin machines in which you can dump a mass amount of change and after a period of clanking a dollar amount mysteriously appears.
Having shared that link, I don’t think I have much left to say. I did want to share some pictures - none belonging to me, mind you - from Barack Obama’s official Flickr page. The pictures were taken by Obama’s official campaign photographer David Katz (including the one right at the top of this blog post). Amazing how relaxed Obama and the family look while waiting for the results to be announced. Confidence?
These are a few of my favourites (more here).
12.25pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Barack Obama, Elections, Joe Biden, photographs, politics, President-elect
Vote NO on Prop 8
Oct 29, 2008 Announcements
I had planned to talk about Proposition 8 yesterday, as it would have been exactly a week to the US Presidential Election. But better late than never, I suppose.
Well, I am joining (not that I am as important, but every voice matters, I believe) a number of public personalities - and individuals - to speak out against Proposition 8 (or Prop 8). On Nov 4, when the people of United States vote for their new President (*fingers crossed* Obama, Obama, Obama), California will also be voting on Proposition 8, among others.
Prop 8 is a 2008 California General Election Ballot initiative measure titled:
Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry
If passed, this measure would allow for the California constitution to be changed, with this phrase “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” added.
Among the people (and organisations) who have spoken out against Prop 8 (yes, those of you voting in California need to vote NO to oppose discrimination - weird how the world works, huh?) include Ellen Degeneres (who got married recently to wife Portia De Rossi), US comic Margaret Cho, Ugly Betty America Fererra, Apple Inc (the company just donated US100,000 to the campaign), Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden among others. TV personalities are also speaking out against Prop 8, like in the video below.
Some others - organisations and individiduals - who are saying NO on Prop 8 are listed here. College students too are out in force.
In August, the Los Angeles Times explained why people should vote NO on Prop 8.
“Proposition 8… would eliminate the fundamental right to same-sex marriage. The very act of denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry – traditionally the highest legal and societal recognition of a loving commitment – by definition relegates them and their relationship to second class status.”
But Prop 8 is not just a sexuality issue - it is about fundemental human rights, and treating citizens fairly. Let this video explain.
No on 8 dispels some myths about Prop 8.
And why should it matter to someone like me, who doesn’t even live there in the US, let alone California? Because change needs to start somewhere, and because a yes win on Prop 8 will have detrimental effects on LGBT rights specifically, and human rights in general.
I join those personalities, organisations, my friends who live in California, and others like me who don’t live in the US also because this is an issue of fairness. The same way I fought, alongside with my friends, peers and contemporaries in Western Australia, for many things back when I was studying there even though - as a foreign student - I was not really affected by most things, and would eventually leave.
A dear friend to me back while I was in Australia recently created this video in support of NO on 8.
Nelson is Australian but now lives in South Africa, yet he feels strongly enough about the issue to take a stand. I am taking a stand too. I am a NO on 8 person. And if you’re voting on Nov 4 in California, I hope you are too.
9.33pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: america ferrera, apple inc, Barack Obama, Elections, ellen degeneres, human rights, Joe Biden, nelson clemente, no on prop 8, portia de rossi, prop 8, proposition 8, yes on prop 8
Vote 1 Niki for US Congress
Oct 14, 2008 People
My friend Arion was Twittering this morning about who to vote for in the upcoming US elections (I’m assuming he got his postal vote documents, as he is currently living in Australia). So I suggested that he vote for me.
Well, he tells me that I got my wish. He’s put me up for Congress (over Steve Berren who’s aligned to the Republicans because anyone is better than the Republicans as well as over Jim McDermott - aligned to the Democrats - who Arion claims have done nothing for his district since he was first elected in 1979). Incidentally, I was born in 1979.
It’s not the Presidency but I’ll take Congress. Although, I don’t think I’m going to win, but thanks Arion, for the vote of confidence. :D
The picture was taken from his Flickr account, with permission.
4.24pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Elections, Jim McDermott, Steve Berren, US Congress
Stupid voters
Oct 9, 2008 Sounds Like Pop
Jon Stewart and The Daily Show are just too funny. Check out the video below:
via videosift.com
You’d think that the percentage would be higher, considering they voted George W. Bush in for two years. ;) Then again, we aren’t known for voting in the smartest tools in the political shed either I suppose.
How’s that for a morning jab! heh heh That’s what happens when you wake up at 6.30am.
7.28am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Elections, john oliver, jon stewart, the daily show, video
