Words of Freedom
If Obama Was White
Not even the two wars fought by the (United Nations?) in Afghanistan and in Iraq in recent times generated much noise and tension all over the world as the US Democrats elections ongoing in which an American senator, Barack Obama is also a contender.
As the elections are being conducted in the US, the echoes of it are deafening the ear, especially in Africa, because Obama is Black. The media is awash with such questions, “Obama, the first Black president of America?” “Obama, Martin Luther King Jr. ‘dream’ come true?” and all that Obama, Obama.
While questions and accolades about/to Obama are posited on the pages of the newspapers, I have not been left without sadness and a feeling of disdain running through my nerves on why, if not the whole world, are envisaging a Black becoming a US president as a miracle. My questions are: would the world collapse if a Black becomes the US president in November this year, and that is Obama, if he wins the Democrats primaries and the general election? Is it not a Black man or woman’s fundamental right to contest in a US elections, as a citizen, without the pique gesture of BLACK attached to the aspirant? Is it not the Blacks’ fundamental right to contest an election in the US, a country their forefathers sprinkled their blood for the emancipation of human rights without any tone of pity attached?
I am not understanding this ovation, this much talks about Obama: is he being pitied, or is the ongoing elections seen as his privilege? The people’s cheers are dicey. One, he is an American; and two, but a Black.
But perhaps the intelligent Obama was white, but a buffoon, a drunk, and all that, I think the world would not have been engulfed with these nefarious disturbances, as being experienced or perceieved in many quarters. In my humble opinion, people should now see Obama as an American citizen, not as (The first Black president of the US?). Even, it is an insult calling the Black, people of ‘colour’. Who in this world does not have colour? If that were the case!
(The first Black president of the US?) question should be stopped; the question always sends a particular signal to my mind that breaks my spine, reminding me of the circumstances that culminated to the assassination of the foremost orator, human rights activist, (Dr.) Martin Luther King Jr.
In this elections, I quite believe that only ‘thank you’ would be an under-congratulatory message that the US would receive from all over the world, if Obama wins or loses, but in a free and fair elections.
As the elections are being conducted in the US, the echoes of it are deafening the ear, especially in Africa, because Obama is Black. The media is awash with such questions, “Obama, the first Black president of America?” “Obama, Martin Luther King Jr. ‘dream’ come true?” and all that Obama, Obama.
While questions and accolades about/to Obama are posited on the pages of the newspapers, I have not been left without sadness and a feeling of disdain running through my nerves on why, if not the whole world, are envisaging a Black becoming a US president as a miracle. My questions are: would the world collapse if a Black becomes the US president in November this year, and that is Obama, if he wins the Democrats primaries and the general election? Is it not a Black man or woman’s fundamental right to contest in a US elections, as a citizen, without the pique gesture of BLACK attached to the aspirant? Is it not the Blacks’ fundamental right to contest an election in the US, a country their forefathers sprinkled their blood for the emancipation of human rights without any tone of pity attached?
I am not understanding this ovation, this much talks about Obama: is he being pitied, or is the ongoing elections seen as his privilege? The people’s cheers are dicey. One, he is an American; and two, but a Black.
But perhaps the intelligent Obama was white, but a buffoon, a drunk, and all that, I think the world would not have been engulfed with these nefarious disturbances, as being experienced or perceieved in many quarters. In my humble opinion, people should now see Obama as an American citizen, not as (The first Black president of the US?). Even, it is an insult calling the Black, people of ‘colour’. Who in this world does not have colour? If that were the case!
(The first Black president of the US?) question should be stopped; the question always sends a particular signal to my mind that breaks my spine, reminding me of the circumstances that culminated to the assassination of the foremost orator, human rights activist, (Dr.) Martin Luther King Jr.
In this elections, I quite believe that only ‘thank you’ would be an under-congratulatory message that the US would receive from all over the world, if Obama wins or loses, but in a free and fair elections.
- Attachments:
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Obi Adisa Asad on -
Damn right! Nuff said. Keep it moving!
-
Permalink Reply by Odimegwu Onwumere on -
Wow! Obi Adisa Asad. Thanks.
The very first day i saw your names, i was confused. I knew that 'Obi' means HEART in Igbo Language, a majority tribe in Nigeria, West Africa. Adisa is a Hausa name of Nigeria or Ghana meaning "one who will teach us." And Asad is a Hausa name of Somalia meaning, "lion." You are great! So, where are you from?
-
Permalink Reply by Obi Adisa Asad on
-
Not only is Asad a Hausa name of Somalia meaning "lion." I found out some time ago, it is also Arabic for "lion." Neat, huh? I'm African American. I took on my moniker a few years ago when a friend of mine of Nigerian descent once called me "Obi." I added the Adisa Asad to it later on. I might be Nigerian--I haven't done any research into my ancestry yet. Thanks for the support.
-
Permalink Reply by Joe/Jose' Gouveia on -
Actually, and interestingly enough, Obama wouldn't be the "first Black President" anyway. Check out the book "Five Black Presidents." With conclusive proof, the following US Presidents had "black blood" (for lack of a better term) in them; Eisenhower, Harding, Lincoln, Jefferson and Jackson. The book is partly based on the booklet by the black historian J. A. Rogers. So all this whoop-la over Obama being the "first black president" is a coy trick, a sort of hidden and subtle racism attempting to hurt him, sometimes used by those who support him not knowing any better.
Jose'
-
Permalink Reply by Louise Marquis on -
So what it boils down to is that those past presidents LOOKED more like their white forbears while Obama LOOKS more like his black ones. Big frickin deal. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of such inanities. I agree with you that while the "first black president" fuss is frequently well-intentioned, it actually hurts him by detracting from his actual deeds and words. I think he's handling it well by ignoring it and continuing to speak to and for all Americans.
-
Permalink Reply by Odimegwu Onwumere on
-
Dear Obi, that your Nigerian friend could be Igbo, that is someone from a part of Nigeria that speak Igbo Language. Have you heard of the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970? The Igbo people are the people fighting for the sovereign state of a republic called Biafra. In Igbo, Obi means heart but during naming ceremony no parent calls his or heart child Obi. Obi could be the short form for Obiamaka, meaning Heart is good. In other word, Obi could be the short form of Obinna, meaning the heart of the father. NNA means Father in Igbo language.......I think for that Nigerian to have called you Obi means that you are the heart of the Igbo race, and I look forward to hosting you in Nigeria one day, very soon. I will make it as my own point of duty that you are giving a chieftaincy tittle when you come to Nigeria. Start thinking about that, my dear friend.
-
Permalink Reply by Obi Adisa Asad on
-
Thank you, brother. I am honored by your words.
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Lawrence Jaffe on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
