I am sure that some of you, like myself, are slightly cynical and bored of the relentless – and rather embarassing – praise which has been bestowed on the ‘heroic’ US President Barack Obama. In a recent blog by acclaimed novelist Alice Walker, she described Obama as being ‘stunningly human, like King and Mandela was’. The absurdity of this comment is both laughable and to many, offensive. To mention Obama in the same breath as those iconic hero’s who have revolutionised the world, is quite simply ludicrous. These men have survived victimisation, and through their struggles have helped changed the world. Now is it really wise to compare a currently ‘trendy-to-like-president’ with those legendary figures?
Now, I for one absolutely believe that Obama was the right person to win the presidential election. Infact, as soon as McCaine promised to ‘continue Bush’s policies’, was the second he was out. The world is trying to undo the damage that Bush’s disastrous policies have caused, not repeat them. And Hilary Clinton clearly just wanted to be president. No idea’s and no integrity. Just a little princess, who wanted that crown. You can can just see her on the cover of some women’s magazine with the heading: ‘My life as a female president’. Obama was by far the right man for the job.
However, to label this man before he has even steped foot in the White House as a ‘hero’ is to say the least, premature. As a young black man myself, I can appreciate his achievements. Becoming the first black President is historical. But to be honest, I, like most people, am just glad to see the back of Bush. Surely nobody can be as unintelligent, Zionistic, unpopular or as corrupt as the Bush administration. So one can only remain optimistic and hopeful for a better change.
I think a major problem is that we’re now living in a society where the terms ‘hero’ and ‘legend’ are so loosely thrown about to any ‘here-today-gone-tomorrow’ public figure. Praise is too easily won or lost – depending on the mood of the press. ‘Legend’ was once a term applied exclusively to those truly distinguished and accomplished figures who have made outstanding contributions in their chosen field. The revolutionary Che Guevara, the genius Albert Einsteen, the poet Bob Dylan and Oscar-winning acting royalty Vanessa Redgrave, are all worthy legends to name just a few. Martin Luther King and Neslon Mandella are too ‘Legends’ and have earnt peoples respect and admiration. Obama has not.
The truth of the matter is, we dont really know what sort of President he will be. He may make great choices, but then again he may be disastrous. To call Obama a hero just because of the pigmentation of his skin is ignorance. He is still being pre-judged by his race, regardless if its favouratism or racism. Only if, and once Obama has proved himself, and has made the changes he has promised, should he be worthy of all this praise. But lets not become disillusioned. Let us all, in the words of Martin Luther King:
“Judge a man by the content of his character, and not by the colour of his skin”.
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