Thursday, 20 March 2008

• My thoughts on Obama

  As a person who doesn't live in America, the things that matter the most to me are foreign policy and the economy. Race also matters.

  On foreign policy, I don’t care for Obama anymore than I care for Clinton or McCain. All, if I’m not mistaken, have talked about invading Pakistan. That is not only deeply insulting to the people of a nation, it is also dangerous.

  Pakistan is suffering a civil war for sovereignty. As the people of Waziristan are bombed by the Pakistan army to make the people of the US happy, the people of Islamabad and Lahore are counter bombed by the people who are losing children to bombs in Waziristan. My 13 year old sister’s school in Lahore constantly has bomb scares. Violence is the most foolish answer to violence – it only perpetuates a vicious cycle. Obama’s, Clinton’s and McCain’s reckless rhetoric has only spurned on the violence of the Pakistan government against its own people.

  On the Middle East, Obama sees the view that the conflict emanates from 'our stalwart ally Israel' as distorted, as opposed to the view that it emanates from the perverse ideologies of radical Islam.

  7 mins 37 secs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo

  Obama’s off the cuff remarks marginalise a valid movement for a free Palestine. The movement has been, for the best part of its history, been driven by an ideology of nationhood. Only recently has leadership of the movement been won by religionists who use uncompromising rhetoric.

  I also don't care for Obama’s fears of work being outsourced.

  31 mins 46 secs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo

  For a nation that sends out economists to other nations advising them to specialise in their ‘comparative advantage’, opposing the outsourcing of work which can be done more efficiently in other countries is nothing short of hypocrisy.

  Having said all that, I would like to see Obama win the elections before Clinton and McCain. He has a magical energy to him that inspires people to think that positive change is possible. He spoke beautifully about solving America's race problems. Five years ago few of us would have imagined that we would see a black man as President of the United States in our lifetimes. Obama, unlike Hillary, has come as far as he has on his own merits.

  Obama as President would do two things, if nothing else. His presidency would profoundly change the way that you, that I, that people in Africa, people in Pakistan, that people the world over, see black people. And secondly, if Obama proves that a black man is able to make it all the way to the top, the world will find a new respect for America.

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