To Dream Again -- The Obama Phenomenon

It looks like everyone who was all fired up and ready to go is all tired out! Obamamania has somewhat died down. While US President-Elect Barack Obama is busy putting together his team, the rest are recovering from the heady experience of electing the first African-American to the world's highest and most influential office.

Since he has already been elected, the world has to wait to see if he can lead and govern. Evidently, Americans are optimistic -- if you go by their votes. But, many are equally un-ecstatic! I asked some of my American friends for their opinions. Two replied, with differing views. Below are excerpts of what they said.

"American voters are shallow and most have no substance or don't know enough about the issues. They are more interested in rockstar wannabes. Granted the guy inspired a bunch of minorities to vote. But understand this fact ... the voter turnout rate while much higher than the average of 60% reached at most 65 - 67%. To be sure roughly33 - 35% of this went to Obama...that is about 1/3 of ALL registered voters. Is this a mandate? ....

" .... never in history has a man gotten the top job with so little experience using so much rhetoric...style over substance. I only question what message it sends...that you don't need to pay your dues, really service your country and get experience to get the top job...just play a good game... but can you govern? Say you are in a traumatic accident and you are facing a fresh doctor and one with 30 yrs experience who will operate on you. Who will you pick? Once again the morality of the American people is questioned ... there is no room for integrity, service to the nation, character, age and experience. Just do a nice song and dance. Feckless. Vacuous. Pubescent. That's the American psyche."

Jeffrey Lim (pictured above in his office), a Malaysian, is now an American citizen. He lives in San Francisco, managing a successful landscape design business. He describes himself as a "fiscal conservative and a social moderate" and he articulates what, I believe, are real issues that were swept aside by Obamamania.

The Mood For Change

Below is a short but pertinent extract from another American, a born-and-bred-in-America woman who had spent several years abroad. Ellen Broughton was a good friend when I studied in the States and will never forget the memorable graduation party she organised for me and my friends on graduation day. She has three very personable sons and the picture above shows the most recent picture of her with her youngest, Greg, in his dormitory at the University of Colarado where he is doing his undergraduate degree in engineering.

Ellen says: "I did vote for Obama. Thought he was the best of the two. We maybe need the Democratic party to do something new but it probably won't change much. And in 8 years, we will be ready for the Republicans again because we think the Democrats didn't do much. Ha!"

Ellen touches on what I feel is the reason Obama won the US elections: People are tired of the old tried and tested ways and want a refreshing change. The mood is for change -- even if it means a period of instability. It is a mood we can sense in our own country. The March 8 election is a case in point, when the electorate severely clipped the wings of the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) government.

We want the wrongs to be recognised so that they could be righted, while we enjoy what was achieved so far.

We want to go beyond where we have arrived -- not to discard those "old, tried and tested ways". They were, no doubt, successful. We see these successes all around us. But, these successes were obtained at a cost. And, people, no longer want to pay the price to sustain those successes. We want the successes and we want all those other issues that were sacrificed, neglected, ignored and relegated to secondary importance to take centrestage.

We want a new hope and, hopefully, a new order which is more just and fair and which creates opportunities to realise dreams we never dreamt we could dream.

Barack Obama inspired millions to dream again. He kindled the flicker of hope in millions who wanted to believe what could not, could be, but dared not, because the "old and tried ways" gave no expression to their voice. He affirmed that voice and worldwide we heard it: Change we need. Change we did.

Now, we wait to see if change will really happen. If it doesn't, as Ellen put it, the Republicans will be back in the White House and the old status quo returns. But, at least, a chance would have been given for change.

Franky, I, too, am in the mood for change. It would be nice for the BN (Barisan Nasional) government to be thrown out -- for just once -- and a new leadership installed. The new leaders would most likely come from the old guard in the Pakatan Rakyat. Let them be in power for two terms during which time they should train the next generation of leaders in the art of clean government.

During that time, Umno and its partners in the BN had better clean up their act and train a new crop of good leaders uncorrupted by the old ways.

Then, we, the people, will once again have the chance to vote for the people who can help us start afresh to dream again.

Do You Love Your Country?

Brian brought up an issue that is really telling. I don't think his parents are among the minority who are advising their children to go abroad and adding, "never come back"! Most parents are giving their children the same advice.

But these parents are NOT mostly Malays; they are mostly non-Malay parents, the first, second or third generation Malaysians of immigrants. They look at what is going in the country and they do not see a future for their children. And their advice is to jump the ship! The grass is greener elsewhere. And, it might be.

On the other hand, Malay parents are not giving their children similar advice. If they do, they form only a negligible minority. The majority of Malay parents want their children to seize all the opportunities that come their way and make the best of it. Of course, things are easier for them because of affirmative action in their favour.

But, even among them, the competition is stiff. The struggle is equally intense for the quota of opportunities allocated to Malays. Yet, their parents do not tell their children to jump ship. Why?
I think the answer will reveal just how "Malaysian" we are. If we were true-blue Malaysians, no matter how bad the situation is in the country, we would not have an exit strategy. At the back of our mind, we would not be saying, "Well, if we are not treated well here, we'll just leave!"

We won't jump ship, simply because we would be so deeply emotionally bonded with this soil that there would be no other country that can take her place. Malaysia is home. That bond would be so deeply etched in our psyche that the thought wouldn't even cross our minds. Instead, the question would be: Where would we go? This is our home!

But, how many of us non-Malays really feel this way about Malaysia? The non-Malay Malaysian truly has an immigrant mentality: when things get rough, hop onto the next plane and fly out! And, we live here without putting out deep roots that settles us. Instead, we try to make as much money as we can, putting aside money so that at any time we can always pack our bags, and buy a ticket to fly us out!

Why don't we stay put and fight for what is legitimately our citizenship rights? Why don't we drive an immovable stake in this country and make it truly ours? Yes, no doubt, it is tough. At every turn, we are curbed and intimidated. But, why don't we say, "This is my country. I am going to fight for what is rightfully mine. I am going to stand up and be counted. I am going to insist that I get what I need to be an equal in this country. And, I am going to do it without violence but by simply using my vote!"

Why don't we play an active part in the electoral process so that our requests are heard and answers delivered. Why don't we fight to be recognised as equal Malaysians, walking shoulder to shoulder with everyone without the spectre of racial discrimination? Why don't we invest in this country and develop it as our own beloved home?

Why don't we?

When more and more non-Malay Malaysians feel this way, I think it will eventually erode the racial divide. We will begin to think Malaysian, not Malay or non-Malay. Then, perhaps, this country will be able to harness the strengths inherent in our multi-cultural society and build a truly united and progressive society that will be the envy of all!

Now, wouldn't that be something to work towards?