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.
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.
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