(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
A long journey is coming to an end now, just days and hours before Americans go to the polls on Election Day Tuesday 4. November.
This is the most talked about and most dramatic presidential election campaign of all time in the United States. And an election campaign that has been followed and discussed at least as carefully around the world as in the United States. In Norway, for example, 84 percent of voters have expressed an opinion on the US election, a higher proportion than voted in the previous parliamentary elections. It is interesting to note that Barack Obama in particular, like some Democratic candidates before him, manages to create more enthusiasm and interest among Norwegians than Norwegian politicians can. Then it is also no coincidence that Norwegian politicians have been inspired by him who is referred to as "the candidate of hope".
Some predicted Obama's star status as early as July 2004, when the first t-shirts with "Obama for President" appeared, after he gave the keynote address at the Democrats' National Congress. His speech on one, united America was words from a bygone era: "There's not a liberal America and a conservative America – there's the United States of America". For the past four years, Obama has maintained this unique ability to communicate across artificial boundaries. In June 2006, Ny Tid used the title "America's next president?" on a case about him, in which we described how Obama "has the charm of John F. Kennedy and is hailed as a rock star" in the United States. Since then, he has not only thrilled a record number of Americans, making him the largest fundraiser in U.S. history, but he has also won a clear majority in virtually every country in the world. His speech in Berlin on July 24 this year, in which a quarter of a million Germans and Europeans gathered to face him, showed how he can restore the ties across the Atlantic and Pacific that have been weakened after seven years with George W. Bush. policy in the wake of 11 September 2001.
Bigger than King
Obama's oratorical abilities are unmatched. Without script, he has proved to be a great speaker than both Martin Luther King jr. and John F. Kennedy. His ability to create hope, enthusiasm and faith in change has intrinsic value. Faith can move mountains. And precisely the belief in change is the most important factor in creating the improvements that the United States and the rest of the world now need.
Nevertheless, there are also problematic aspects of Obama's candidacy. He is not the Messiah, as previously pointed out here in New Age, but rather a center-right candidate in American politics who has made problematic statements both about Jerusalem, nationalization and possible bombing in Pakistan. The possible revolution in world politics will probably not come from himself, but in the case from the positive side effects his possible election victory and entry can create. In that case, it will be up to the rest of the world to be inspired to reconsider their own policies if the Americans do the same.
From a purely political point of view, both the now independent Ralph Nader, the former presidential candidate for the Greens, and Cynthia McKinney – this year's official presidential candidate for the Greens in the United States – are preferable. Their anti-war policies, feminism and consistent environmental thinking are far more progressive, clear and radical than the center-right policies Obama can and must stand for. African-American McKinney is the Congress politician who single-handedly worked to bring Bush to justice because of the Iraq war.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks Obama has proven to be a good number 2 candidate. His handling of the personal attacks and the financial crisis still inspire hope. While Republican John McCain has shown his true face at the same time. His election of the anti-feminist Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as vice presidential candidate does not inspire confidence. Therefore, it is preferable that Obama wins on Tuesday, all the while the Greens' candidates are struggling to get over a couple of percentage points in support.
White hope
The reason is also that Obama can be called the white hope. He is not black, as it appears in the Norwegian media, but in the case more white, if one is to first mention culture and background. He grew up alone with his white mother from Kansas, or with his white grandparents in Hawaii – where his now sick grandmother, with a Native American background, now lives. It is interesting to note that one sees his father's features, but not his mother's. It says something about our time. But it also says something about our time that a candidate who is just trying to appear cosmopolitan, is so clearly embraced by whites. It was young, white American college students who last year brought Obama forward as Hillary Clinton's opponent. While African-Americans, of whom Obama can hardly be said to be a part, were more skeptical.
In this sense, Obama is first and foremost the white hope. He gives hope to the majority population in both the United States and Europe. It is worth noting that while 70 percent of Germans support Obama because of his skin color, only 35 percent of them think it would be positive to have a colored German head of state. This is how Obama's success in the United States acts as a substitute for his home country's lack of progress.
Unfortunately, there is probably also greater enthusiasm for Obama in Norway than for Norwegian minority politicians, as the ongoing nomination process shows. It is to be hoped that Norwegian parties will learn from the United States and see that the progress of minorities first and foremost benefits the country's majority. So far, we want a good choice. This is about all of us.