There was a worldwide celebration when President Barack Obama was announced the winner of the US presidential election. There was so much hoopla everywhere. The people I saw on TV interviews exuded excitement and enthusiasm. For a change, in this last election it didn't seem like it was a Republican versus a Democrat competition.
It was a triumph of another kind. For the first time, this is mentioned hundreds perhaps thousands of times, an African-American won the presidential race. There are numerous African-Americans coming out and becoming more active during the presidential campaign and much much more during the inauguration day.
I have nothing against the African-American people but I think and I feel that when there is always a mention of an individual's race or colour there is always some tinge of racism. In the case at hand for example, I don't want to be the party pooper, but can we stop mentioning always that President Obama is the first African-American President? Can we not be like that grade school student who looked at the winner as the present President who will be in charge of the country and will take care of the people.
I'm not discounting all the effort and sweat and tears and sufferings and lives of everyone who worked hard so that there would be equality and everybody's rights will be protected. This is the culmination of their advocacy.
Let's not focus on the colour of the President. This undermines the value of the previous presidents and might have the same effect on the future African-American presidents. Let's acknowledge the winner as the winner because he is the most qualified and the one best suited to hold office. Let's be like a child. Why is he the winner? Because he is the best candidate. Because he has the abilities. Because he has the personality. Because he is the best person for it.
I'm hoping that race, gender, age, and ability will be used as adjectives and not as "classification".
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Congratulations to President Barack Obama
Congratulations to President Barack Obama .
On the day of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, Malacanang Palace issued a press statement. It was seriously delivered by Secretary Ermita but I found it hilariously funny. The statement was (with the subtitle to add):
"President Obama can learn from other presidents including Gloria Arroyo."
I consider the last three words as the punchline, including Gloria Arroyo!! Ha! Ha! Ha! He! He! He! Ha! Ha! He!
On the same night before I went to sleep I had an epiphany. Malacanang is dead serious. After doing some analysis and thinking I couldn't agree more. There are lots and lots of things the present president of the United States of America can learn from Gloria Arroyo.
Gloria Arroyo is a living testament of everything that a head of a state SHOULD NOT DO!!!
First and foremost is not to usurp power from somebody else.
If you want to win in an election campaign and do not cheat.
If you cheated and you are really sorry have the decency to step down and never show your face again.
Don't be corrupt.
Don't force your cabinet members to be corrupt.
Don't issue a directive requiring members of the government to tell you first whatever they will tell an investigative body.
Don't issue directive protecting your cohorts from contempt or any lawsuits hence they can ignore summons to shed light on cases involving the office of the President.
Don't involve your clan in your corrupt practices, at least spare the children of the humiliation because of what you did.
These are the few things that came to my mind. I'm sure there are many many more (I'm thankful I'm not privy to all those horrendous things Arroyo and her cohorts did and are still planning to do and the agony of keeping mum of those who suddenly have "conscience attack" because divulging any information may cost them their lives.)
On the day of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, Malacanang Palace issued a press statement. It was seriously delivered by Secretary Ermita but I found it hilariously funny. The statement was (with the subtitle to add):
"President Obama can learn from other presidents including Gloria Arroyo."
I consider the last three words as the punchline, including Gloria Arroyo!! Ha! Ha! Ha! He! He! He! Ha! Ha! He!
On the same night before I went to sleep I had an epiphany. Malacanang is dead serious. After doing some analysis and thinking I couldn't agree more. There are lots and lots of things the present president of the United States of America can learn from Gloria Arroyo.
Gloria Arroyo is a living testament of everything that a head of a state SHOULD NOT DO!!!
First and foremost is not to usurp power from somebody else.
If you want to win in an election campaign and do not cheat.
If you cheated and you are really sorry have the decency to step down and never show your face again.
Don't be corrupt.
Don't force your cabinet members to be corrupt.
Don't issue a directive requiring members of the government to tell you first whatever they will tell an investigative body.
Don't issue directive protecting your cohorts from contempt or any lawsuits hence they can ignore summons to shed light on cases involving the office of the President.
Don't involve your clan in your corrupt practices, at least spare the children of the humiliation because of what you did.
These are the few things that came to my mind. I'm sure there are many many more (I'm thankful I'm not privy to all those horrendous things Arroyo and her cohorts did and are still planning to do and the agony of keeping mum of those who suddenly have "conscience attack" because divulging any information may cost them their lives.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
