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
Barack Obama, President-elect
Nov 5, 2008 News Breaks
I have just finished watching John McCain’s speech on CNN, conceeding defeat to Democratic nominee - and now, President-elect, Barack Obama.
Thank goodness I managed to make it back in time for Cyberjaya to witness this monumental occasion. I have to say that I am very happy that McCain was gracious and magnanimous in his defeat, giving Obama a lot of credit.
Can’t say the same for the Republican crowd, however, who boo-ed several times when McCain mentioned that Obama was the clear winner - and obvious choice of the majority of Americans. Shame, I say.
I am now waiting for Obama to address the crowd. Oprah Winfrey was there too!
CONGRATULATIONS to Obama, who on January 20, will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States - the first African-American to hold that position.
12.37pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Barack Obama, John McCain, US elections, US President
Who will be the next US President?
Nov 5, 2008 News Breaks
I woke up early this morning because I wanted to check the news. My senses are heightened and I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the news reports, Twitter messages and blogs going US elections crazy. And I haven’t even turned on CNN yet!
Got a few errands to run in the morning but I should be in the office in time to watch the results roll in, and hopefully celebrate an Obama win later in the day (not sure if the do vote counting through the night in the US).
I did find some very interesting sites which I want to share to kick off the day.
But first, CNN is already reporting some results - with McCain leading with 8 electoral votes to Obama’s 5. Still early though, but click here to see the up-to-date results. New York Times still has it at 0-0 at the moment, though.
Many newspapers are already gearing for an Obama win, and cartoonist have even completed their drawings. There are a couple of nice ones here.
We might not know the results to late, but networks are getting ready to call the election if the early results on the east coast indicate that one particular candidate has won more than 270 electoral votes, Reuters reports.
“There’s no way to get around it,” CBS News senior vp Paul Friedman said. “If one man gets 270 electoral votes before the West Coast polls are closed, we’re not going to pretend (he doesn’t).”
One social commentator eavesdrop while voting. Quite troubling.
Voters are Twittering like crazy at Twitter Vote Report. LA Times reported how the site is giving an indication of how California is voting.
8.09am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Barack Obama, general elections, John McCain, Presidential Elections, results, US elections
Obama vs McCain = Mac vs PC
Oct 25, 2008 Sounds Like Pop
I came across this website the other day called Vote Smarter, and it basically features a series of ads which is kind of a spoof on the popular Mac vs PC ads. Except these ones feature “John McCain” and “Barack Obama” talking on various issues.
Here is one I liked.
There are many more at the website, and I thought that it was timely to share this since the US Presidential Elections is just over a week away.
The ads were created by an independent filmmaker named Lena Khan. Click here to find out more about the people behind the ads.
10.51am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Barack Obama, John McCain, Lena Khan, mac, pc, Vote Smarter 2008
Meet Joe the Plumber
Oct 17, 2008 People
I missed the earlier session of the final US Presidential Elections debate yesterday between Barack Obama and John McCain but picked up on this guy - Joe the Plumber. I wasn’t sure if he was a rhetorical character or a real person, but today, I found out. His real name is Joe Wurzelbacher.
Then I came across this video - an ABC interview with the man himself. Apparently, he had met Obama while the latter was on the campaign trail, and asked him about his pledge to raise taxes for those earning US$250,000 or more a year from 36% to 39%.
I’m not sure I agree with Joe when he says that the rich shouldn’t be taxed more, though. Does that make me a socialist?
It’s good to put a face to a name though. And I wonder if he’s going to make the US$250,000 sooner than he thinks, with the kind of publicity he’s getting (23 times he was mentioned during the debate!!!).
8.41pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Barack Obama, joe the plumber, joe Wurzelbacher, John McCain, politics, US elections
