The stakes are high for America’s “Nelson Mendela”
Barak Obama's election in the U.S. is nothing short of a victory over racism. Commentators worldwide keep using the "historic election" phrase. But it is the outburst of sheer joy from the African and African descended people that really shows the historic significance of having an African-American president.
I have lived in the southern U.S. and have seen the deep level of racism against African-Americans. It was no surprise to see an assassination plot against Obama during the election campaign. And there will no doubt be further plots against Obama's life.
Only 200 years ago slavery was abolished in the British Empire. Less than 150 years ago slavery was abolished in the U.S., giving rise to a bloody civil war in that country. Now an African American can become president of the U.S. It has been a long and arduous journey for recognition as people of equal worth. And there are still many people, particularly in the southern states, who do not recognize equality of African Americans.
The expectations placed on Obama however, are equal to those placed on Nelson Mandela's after the end of apartheid in South Africa.
In one term of office Obama will be expected to bring about social justice for African-American people, nay perhaps even all minorities in the U.S.
There are similar expectations in other countries as well. The U.S. president is seen as the most powerful person in the world. There is an expectation of monumenal change in American foreign policy.
Is Obama up to the task? This is the huge question mark as Obama is essentially untried. He served as a senator in Illinois from 1997 to 2004. He was elected to the U.S. senate in 2004. He has far less political experience than most previous presidents.
Prior to his political experience, Obama was a community organizer and civil rights lawyer. He has taught constitutional law. He has a great education from Columbia University and Harvard Law School.
But is this enough? Does he have wisdom and maturity?
Nelson Mandela, for example, had been a leader in the African National Congress. His mettle was tested through the struggle against apartheid. He matured through years in prison. He was a man with strong character and an ability to work with others to reconcile a divided nation. But even he was not able to bring the economic change so desperately needed in South Africa.
The issues facing the U.S. at this moment are no less challenging. The global economic meltdown is directly linked to the sub-prime mortgage debacle. The Bush administration de-regulated the banking industry, arguing that it was in the banks' self-interest to ensure that their loans had proper collateral. In hindsight, banks would likely now agree with that. But somehow they forgot; they granted loans to those who should not have qualified and fueled a housing boom—while ignoring the rising numbers of defaults.
Now, with banks and mortgage firms needing federal bailout and the stock market in some kind of frenzied dance—rising and plunging on a daily basis—the U.S. president has to deal with an economy in crisis as a first priority.
There is tremendous international pressure on the U.S. to get its economy in control as their crisis has become everyone's crisis. A few months ago few of us knew the names of the stock markets in Asia, but now we hear on the morning news that the Nikkei and the Hang Seng are up or down 10 to 30 per cent.
Some banks in Europe are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and, of course, all the banks in Iceland crashed. Factories are closing, not only in Canada, but in many countries due to lower consumer confidence.
In this economic landscape it is hard to imagine how Obama can work to stabilize the economy, re-instill confidence in the U.S. economy and find the resources to bring economic justice.
I wish him well, I really do. The stakes are high, not only for the U.S. but for the world.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
