Dear Editor,
On Wednesday November 5, 2008, a new chapter in world politics was realized when Barack Obama became the 44th President-elect of that great country, the United States of America. His election to the White House should signal to politicians everywhere that the American voters did not take race as an issue. They did not see a supposed black man, but sensibly the intellectual ability, oratorical skills, charisma and compassionate values of Barack Obama, representing the first step on the new road of reconciliation.
It is said that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. Through the ‘sneezing’ of the American voters let us hope that Guyanese and others all over the world catch the cold of sensibility to desist from following a leader’s race blindly. Obama won the race for the White House not through the vote of the black population of America alone, but because he was able to secure the votes of others. Barack Obama has proven that at last America is a democracy, and I now see that country as the land of opportunity for all regardless.
Before the results of Wednesday, November 5, I would never have accepted that voters in the USA could in such numbers put issues before sentiment, but because of the ‘bully boy’ attitude of George W Bush and his cronies during their eight years of office, most of America has come to the conclusion that enough is enough.
The campaign of the Democratic Party was very skilful, because even when the Republican Party was mud slinging, it did not put them on the defensive. Had they tried to debate every story thrown at Obama it would have thrown them off their campaign. In fact, the week before Election Day it was the Republican Party which was seeking to defend their eight years of bad governance.
There is a new political culture now; it is Obamaism. It is said that the longest journey begins with a single step; well, my son Barack Obama, you have made that first step. It will not be an easy journey, but the world knows you have the belly to succeed.
Incidentally, the new President of America will assume office on January 20, 2009. That day is my birthday and I will achieve the age of 68 years. I feel privileged to be celebrating (inshaalaha) that milestone on the day of the inauguration of the man of the century, Barack Obama. I feel that we have here in Guyana a man who had the same inheritance of ‘Barack’ (reconciliation) but somewhere along the way he had to shelve what was good for all the people, because of those who were before him.
Yours faithfully,
Murtland Williams
