Saturday, August 30, 2008 Arinday: Hope, dream-US politics By GH Arinday Jr. Sunfare
IF DEMOCRAT presidential bet Barack Obama clinches the title as the first black to lord over the White House, some would probably consider it as the randomness of Fate.
However, the ultimate judgment would not be far from considering that democracy really shows that the system is the most workable system among political ideologies.
Other than its sociological significance, democracy's "operational philosophy" as a creative-driven goal of the people for their renewal of hope and change as originally conceived by the founding fathers remain the eternal dream and majority of the Americans have zealously kept this symbol.
As the bruising campaign reaches the finishing line between Democrat's Obama and Republican's John McCain, hardly could we notice the egotistical drives based on popularity or personality but on empirical issues on foreign policies and the economy among the most vital ones.
The visual experiences from the last few years of the 20th century up to the 9/11-harrowing episode and the invasion of Iraq on the issue of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the economic melt down have revitalized not on mere perceptions in the pursuit of the American dream but on the renewed moral and intellectual strength for purposes of exploring possibilities inclusive of the fundamental and wide-ranging reforms in the social and economic realm.
Indeed, Obama gives so much hope for the Americans in the face of domestic and global problems which account for his triumph over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primary elections for the Democratic presidential candidate-despite being a neophyte senator from Illinois he has displayed a new symbol of political regeneration-the search for one who could muster the vast bureaucracy works as the public servant and an instrument for world peace and understanding even those considered as "rogue states."
Hope and dream. Such idealism could not have been better expressed than by singer Sheryl Crow when she said during the kick-off concert last Sunday (August 23) at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado: "No matter what campaign ad we see or how it spun, hope is important. It's what this country was based on."
While pollsters gave Obama a slight edge over McCain, the Clinton followers would certainly make the difference. The stunning rise of Obama to the pinnacle of US politics after a three-year stint in the Senate is something for the books. No black or colored candidate has ever achieved a captivating audience than the Democrat presidential bet. He is no celebrity player but he has transcended the racial obstacle.
If ever elected, Barack Obama shall certainly face multifarious problems particularly on foreign relations. It was a wise choice for Obama to pick Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden as his running mate, the latter being a veteran on foreign policies spanning three terms as member of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
It is certain that even if elected president of the United States of America, Barack Obama would opt for cooperative international program designed to avoid war and provide suitable policies for it.
Obama has proposed the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq but would maintain a peacekeeping contingent force in Afghanistan.
But a new problem is cropping up in Georgia, where the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, are being cuddled by Russia and recognized as independent states. This is probably the first test of Obama in foreign relations if he wins in the November presidential elections.
Our politicians and the voters should have followed the electoral campaign in the US relative to the manner by which the candidates conducted their campaigns.
There is none of the cinematic melodrama where the candidates are featured in tri-media facilities with exaggerated qualities or wisdom but popularity is more stressed than the valid issues. Mudslinging, muckraking and all sins, real or imaginary are being heaped upon the opponents. To some extent, the candidate is likened to a messiah who could solve the ails of the country, let alone the usual three Gs-guns, gold, and goons.
In their speeches, the Filipino politicians would resort to hasty generalization, arguments without evidence and more on personal attacks.
It is often tragic that one who is intelligently challenged is elected through fraudulent manners or methods notably by media agency or machineries of political dynasties. The aberrant manner by which the candidates are pictured would often result in their victories under this kind of manipulations.
Well, this is another story.
If only we can try to learn from the current US political contests, we can really make our country the show-window of Democracy in this part of the globe.
