Hope for the Future

Barack Obama has finally won the right to contest John McCain to be the most powerful individual in the world. After a lengthy campaign akin to a fifteen round prize fight, Hillary Clinton has been sent to the showers to contemplate losing her early status as the "sure thing." What happens now will be fascinating. What a test of the shadowy American legacy of racism and xenophobia. For months now spurious emails have been circulating about Obama's refusal to repeat the pledge of allegiance or look at the flag, all because his father was Muslim.

He has been accused of being a "stealth Muslim" and of being anti-Jewish. Journalist Allen Abel visited relatives in Texas who are evangelical Christians and wrote an article in the National Post in March about why they won't vote for Obama. Although Obama writes in both his autobiographical books about his conversion to Christianity this isn't enough for Abel's family. He doesn't name the actual moment of conversion, although in The Audacity of Hope he comes pretty darn close.

Many people of colour claim that they have been victims of a "driving while black" mentality by police when they see someone who isn't white behind the wheel of an expensive car. I wonder if there will be a "running for President while black" mindset amongst what we hope will be a minority in the U.S. Who is this uppity black guy who thinks he can be the leader of the free world? In one on-the-street interview people were concerned that Obama was too articulate. Surely the American public had enough mangled prhases thrown at them during the Bush regime? Any excuse to keep a person of colour out of the White House.

Let's hope that the majority will vote believing in liberty and justice for all, regardless of race, colour, or creed. Let's hope that this is a moment of significant change.