I know I should care more, but it is hard when you live so far away. I know that the blogosphere is bursting with activity about the forthcoming election in America, but I am finding it hard to engage, just wishing it could all soon be over. I live in the UK. America is not my country.
I know that whoever the next incumbent of the White House is will have an effect on me. I know that the American government’s economic policy will influence my standard of living - it is already restricting my friends’ spending power as they contemplate buying dollars for a trip to New York. I know that American values, influenced by the American government’s social policy, will have some effect on me, as what happens over there always happens over here, eventually. I know that American foreign policy has already had a major influence on my country and will continue to do so for years to come. As that nation struts around the world, my nation forgets that it is no longer a major power and tries to do the same as its big child.
But, it is hard to engage. America is not my country.
Up until yesterday, if I did think about the ‘race to the White House’, I always had a mild hope that Obama would win. My reasons for this were not particularly profound. I didn’t have a clear grasp of the fine detail of policy differences between the two parties. I suppose you could say the hope was based on more fundamental issues (or prejudices).
First, by inclination and temperament, I swing to the left rather than to the right. I believe that people should be free to make adult choices rather than be told what to do by moralizing, finger-pointing, control-freaks. I feel more naturally at home with the Democrats. Secondly, I happen to believe that it would be good to see a non-Caucasian in power in America, especially as the candidate concerned seems to be an able and good man. It would have helped if he had been a woman, but for the time being, I can forgive him for not being one. Non-verbal messages are important, and, in my view, having an able, black president will be encouraging to a large proportion of Americans.
That was up until yesterday. But yesterday I read something that galvanized me. Now I really want Obama to win with a passion that is surprising even me.
Yesterday I was skimming through the September and October edition of the New Humanist magazine when I came across the news that Stuart Shepard of the Fundamentalist Focus on the Family had called on US conservatives to pray for “torrential” downpours to flood Denver, when Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Shepard requested that the rain start “two minutes before the speech is set to begin,” and like a true believer, inserted the standard get-out clause just in case his prayers (and those of other Christians) were made to look ineffective and even more ridiculous, accepting that it’s “always up to God to decide”.
They do say that when your argument is weak you can always attack the person. Now it seems when you cannot argue sensibly and hope to win your case you can always pray and assume that god is on your side and that (s)he can be bidden by your desires. I’m glad that it didn’t rain in Denver at the requested time. A foolish part of me wants Obama to win just so that Shepard is exposed as being even more wrong, however, even as I write, I know that is very foolish. People like Shepard never know they are wrong, always have get-out clauses, and presumably do not operate in the same world of science and reason as the rest of us (though they are happy to enjoy the benefits of science and reason).
Whoever gets into the White House will be a fallible human being who has been chosen by other fallible human beings, and not by some imaginary friend. If you do believe in an imaginary friend, ask her or him to help the would-be White House occupant, not to soak the candidate out of spite!
AThinkingMan - I completely understand your lack of interest in our politics. Still, you may want to note that the differences between the two principles tickets grew much wider last week. And the stakes grew much higher.
McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, selected an extremely conservative fundamentalist Christian to be his vice-presidential candidate. Given McCain’s advanced age and questionable health, if he’s elected, there’s a strong chance this his Vice President will succeed him as president upon his death. If the McCain/Palin ticket wins, right-wing Christian extremism in the USA could grow beyond anything the world has ever seen. That thought sends shivers up and down my spine.
I find the Chaplain coments very interesting. I did not know that information. Thanks!
Bloody great blog athinkingman and I am happy to swear on this ocassion for the purpose of trying to emulate my passion on here concerning this subject, all be it rather poorly.
I could have written this blog too though no where near so well. Agree with all your sentiments.
Leaving aside all the good people of America, who feel as frustated as we do with the policies of this particular president in office as I write, I can not express enough how much I want the democrats to win.
I know little about the real substance of policies the Obama camp enforces but I do know that right wing conservative and extreme policies are not want I stand for.
Let us hope that America chooses a new way, where perhaps someone just might, just might start looking at the wider picture, rather the narrow one on the home front of the USA shores. There is a feeling out there I perceive where Americans are concerned about the planet, climate change, the never ending conflict in Iraq and their own economic outlook.
I just so wish Al Gore had got in, rather than the vote which swayed into the Bush camp. Forgive me America if I am wrong and wish to offend no-one but a feeling exits within me that the oil tycoons of Texas got Bush in, protecting their selfish greedy interests.
McCain looks like an old man, Obama fresh and with spirit. I think the problem will be the vice president the former has choosen, a polished women, in my view, who on the surface I like but she is a threat to the democrats.
Enough said, what do I know any way. It is not for me to choose who will suceed, let the American people decide, its their nation after all. However, athinkingman as you state, who gets in will affect us and the whole world in a big way.
If I am going to say any prayer it would be that the American people will really look closely at the adminstration they have just had and ask themselves whether they want more of the same. I sincerly hope they do not and my own prayers will be answered for the Democrats.
In the race to the white house here in America where history is being made because of the introduction of race and gender most overlooks a worldwide fact. There has never been a successful country run by a person of African ancestry. Granted the obamanation is only halve black but he is the one who made the choice of being mentored by an anti white racist.
the chaplain
Thanks for the info. I was beginning to pick up bad vibes over here about Sarah Palin.
Great rant, athinkingman. Welcome to my world. Since our TV and radio are all American, I hear stupidities like that of the FOF guy all the time.
Also, since we live 15 minutes from a border with the USA, whatever they do there affects us one way or another, unfortunately. Although, I can see your point. If affects you guys just as much, really.
As you probably know, if you’ve been to my blog recently I am agravated by Palin, who to me is a hypocrite fundamentalist Christian of the worst kind: Assemblies of God.
Anyway, nice rant, I enjoyed it.
Lorena
Living so close to America must be scary!
athinkingman,
Scarier yet, most of the Canadian population lives by the longest undefended border in the world.
What’s “funny” is that we cross the border all the time, to go shopping or on vacation. A lot of us do, anyway. Yet the anti-American sentiment is so pronounced that it isn’t even funny. But I guess the feeling stems from the fact that, even though we hate to admit it, in many ways we are just another state, minus the benefits of being one–like we still have pay a tone of taxes.
And don’t let me forget that we have a European-like health system. Actually, if you ever ask a Canadian if he/she would like to live in the States, the standard answer will be. “I wouldn’t want to live there. Our health system is much better.”