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| Letters From London |
| Humorous Views on London Culture, Royals, Gossip and Politics |
The Man Who Would Be King - 20 January 2009
“O B A M A, O B A M A, O B A M A!” Is it a bird, a plane, no – it’s superman; the man who
would be king. Adulation for a celebrity, pop star, guru, King of England, star of the film, Martin
Luther King? No. It’s for the saviour of the world rallying the masses pre-inauguration.
It is truly amazing. Truly surreal. A ‘black’ (mixed race in every other country) man a US
president. Literally African American. Devoid of the cross of slavery born by every American of
colour. Amazing in that it happened, but also because it is so revealing regarding the virulent
racism that is woven tighter than a tapestry into the very fabric of American life.
Tears streaming down black faces, black churches packed, every singer/actor/celebrity with
even less than that necessary one –quarter-blood rule bear-hugging and back slapping. While a
brilliant accomplishment, it is still tinged with poignancy. The very fact that a 42,500 security
team has been drafted in to protect Obama from the 49% who didn’t vote him into office or from
the terrorists living the American dream in small towns in Iowa or Montana.
As black Americans have said: there are two Americas. One for white and one for those who
aren’t - of ‘pure’ blood. So every person ‘of colour’ will be vicariously swept into the White House.
Quite the historic, if crowded and chaotic moment, with Oprah leading the way to her own wing.
A Washington source has said "She sees this administration as very much her own, and she
intends to make hay while it lasts." “O P R A H, O P R A H, O P R A H!” Oh I do hope not.
What really makes Obama different is that he appears to be a person. A mixed race person who
grew up outside the black/white divide and shockingly intelligent as a bonus; so clearly a
supreme strategist. What he will do is a bit worrying though. Packing his cabinet with hawks and
Rahm Emanuel as the first appointee. Hmmm. What could this all mean? The Israeli lobby is an
integral part of the government regardless of which party is in…the military complex is an integral
part of the government regardless of which party is in…? We haven’t heard from the ever-
powerful pharmaceutical companies as yet. Will Obama be suggesting Americans add anti-
anxiety drugs to their weekly shopping: “Just pop a tiny pill and everything will be fine. Trust me.”
Or maybe he’ll simply send the nervous masses to Gwyneth’s site. After criticism, the actress
argues she is merely passing on good advice from her privileged lifestyle. "People get a hit of
energy when they are negative and it is very detrimental for them. They do not understand why
they do not have a happy life. That kind of stuff is just noise to me. I feel sorry for them." Scary.
Obama’s obsessive identification with Lincoln is as complicated as Lincoln himself. A man whose
main objective was to save the Union, not the slaves, although he did offer the vote to those who
fought for the Union once in office. His 1858 speech is of its time, as was he: "I will say then that
I am not, nor have ever been, in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality
of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or
jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I
will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races
which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political
equality." Ah. The irony.
The messianic cult of personality. A deep unswerving inner confidence. A promise to return
American to its divine right of greatness. A speech giving his unreserved, undeserved support of
Israel at the AIPAC (Israeli lobby). An aloofness and a curious detachment. A tendency to drop
his ‘g’s to appear like a typical American. Could all be potentially troublin’, but at this moment
Martin Luther King might be sayin’: “ I had a dream….”
Unfortunately many others still have theirs. Africans think Obama will save them from poverty and
create democracy, Cubans think he’ll save them from poverty and create democracy, African
Americans think he’ll save them from poverty and create democracy. By not holding to an
ideology, he has been the figure the oppressed, depressed have projected their hopes and
dreams on. This can only end in tears – of frustration, disappointment or rage.
What we want is for Obama to pay off the toxic US debts British taxpayers have been over-
burdened with until the year 3051. All those years that Britain has been the pathetic panting
poodle puppy and here we are, publicly blanked by the new administration already. But as the
Bush Boy said: “ I think we agree, the past is over.” He may be missed after all.
“O B A M A, O B A M A, O B A M A!” Is it a bird, a plane, no – it’s superman; the man who
would be king. Adulation for a celebrity, pop star, guru, King of England, star of the film, Martin
Luther King? No. It’s for the saviour of the world rallying the masses pre-inauguration.
It is truly amazing. Truly surreal. A ‘black’ (mixed race in every other country) man a US
president. Literally African American. Devoid of the cross of slavery born by every American of
colour. Amazing in that it happened, but also because it is so revealing regarding the virulent
racism that is woven tighter than a tapestry into the very fabric of American life.
Tears streaming down black faces, black churches packed, every singer/actor/celebrity with
even less than that necessary one –quarter-blood rule bear-hugging and back slapping. While a
brilliant accomplishment, it is still tinged with poignancy. The very fact that a 42,500 security
team has been drafted in to protect Obama from the 49% who didn’t vote him into office or from
the terrorists living the American dream in small towns in Iowa or Montana.
As black Americans have said: there are two Americas. One for white and one for those who
aren’t - of ‘pure’ blood. So every person ‘of colour’ will be vicariously swept into the White House.
Quite the historic, if crowded and chaotic moment, with Oprah leading the way to her own wing.
A Washington source has said "She sees this administration as very much her own, and she
intends to make hay while it lasts." “O P R A H, O P R A H, O P R A H!” Oh I do hope not.
What really makes Obama different is that he appears to be a person. A mixed race person who
grew up outside the black/white divide and shockingly intelligent as a bonus; so clearly a
supreme strategist. What he will do is a bit worrying though. Packing his cabinet with hawks and
Rahm Emanuel as the first appointee. Hmmm. What could this all mean? The Israeli lobby is an
integral part of the government regardless of which party is in…the military complex is an integral
part of the government regardless of which party is in…? We haven’t heard from the ever-
powerful pharmaceutical companies as yet. Will Obama be suggesting Americans add anti-
anxiety drugs to their weekly shopping: “Just pop a tiny pill and everything will be fine. Trust me.”
Or maybe he’ll simply send the nervous masses to Gwyneth’s site. After criticism, the actress
argues she is merely passing on good advice from her privileged lifestyle. "People get a hit of
energy when they are negative and it is very detrimental for them. They do not understand why
they do not have a happy life. That kind of stuff is just noise to me. I feel sorry for them." Scary.
Obama’s obsessive identification with Lincoln is as complicated as Lincoln himself. A man whose
main objective was to save the Union, not the slaves, although he did offer the vote to those who
fought for the Union once in office. His 1858 speech is of its time, as was he: "I will say then that
I am not, nor have ever been, in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality
of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or
jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I
will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races
which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political
equality." Ah. The irony.
The messianic cult of personality. A deep unswerving inner confidence. A promise to return
American to its divine right of greatness. A speech giving his unreserved, undeserved support of
Israel at the AIPAC (Israeli lobby). An aloofness and a curious detachment. A tendency to drop
his ‘g’s to appear like a typical American. Could all be potentially troublin’, but at this moment
Martin Luther King might be sayin’: “ I had a dream….”
Unfortunately many others still have theirs. Africans think Obama will save them from poverty and
create democracy, Cubans think he’ll save them from poverty and create democracy, African
Americans think he’ll save them from poverty and create democracy. By not holding to an
ideology, he has been the figure the oppressed, depressed have projected their hopes and
dreams on. This can only end in tears – of frustration, disappointment or rage.
What we want is for Obama to pay off the toxic US debts British taxpayers have been over-
burdened with until the year 3051. All those years that Britain has been the pathetic panting
poodle puppy and here we are, publicly blanked by the new administration already. But as the
Bush Boy said: “ I think we agree, the past is over.” He may be missed after all.
