Obama Opinions

Obama. One word. Three syllables. And only half African-American. I've never been politically active--and I am ashamed that I have never voted in any kind of election other than when playing Mafia or watching American Idol. However, I am a staunch American Patriot. I am so staunch that I exercise my right to not vote.

Sounds very unpatriotic to you? Well, I have read Stephen Colbert's book: I Am America And So Can You.

It's hard for me to vote because learning the platforms of each candidate is like molecular chemistry to me: this ion is going to join with that other ion because it needs to be balanced, but then this electron is greedy and therefore wants to complete it's shell by sharing/borrowing/stealing from another electron and depending on the amount of ions it can be an alkaline solution which is low in hydrogen ions but there's also a neutral pH as well as greedy acidic solutions high in hydrogen ions that can corrode and destroy.

Sure, taking the extra effort to learn about the running candidates would be a little patriotic because you need to know what you're getting. If you want a pepperoni calzone, you're gonna expect pepperoni on the inside...same thing with Gusher's Fruit Snacks.

When it came down to it, we were either voting for a Madame President a la 24 or on the old animated X-Men series on Fox or for an African American (old 24, new season of Heroes?). In the nicest way possible, I have a hard time seeing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) making it to 2010. He's old and he appeared on a Viagra commercial but at least back then you knew it was an advertisement for erectile dysfunction—nowadays, you think the commercial is about high cholesterol, playing in a jazz band, or even working at a chicken farm AND then they hit you with the fact that chicken farming is no longer enjoyable because of erectile dysfunction—another example of how politicians work (don’t work): they have erectile dysfunction.

Now…how do I feel about President-elect Barack Obama (as I type this, Microsoft Word Office 2007 did not red-squiggly “Barack Obama”…he’s already infiltrated my personal life)…

A month or so ago, I bought a game called Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. One of the characters on the MK side is named Baraka. I spent a good two weeks saying the words: Barakabama. I’ve grown up a little since then (a little little). Those who know me think I am pretty racist. I’ve almost got that Avenue Q song “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” down by heart…but I’m not, sort of. My area of focus in my psychology research is in the area of racism.

Remember when literally bad meant bad, cool meant cool, and crabs meant crabs? Racism doesn’t float very well as a standalone. It has changed too. A college friend once asked me on the bus after I told her my research concerning racism in America, “We still have problems with that?”

Yes, Virginia.

It has new PR with improved face, methodology, and alluring charm.

Obama represents a shift in society that I am a big fan of…and it is because he is not White. I don’t hate White people…I know what kind of meat I like from my turkey and it ain’t dark. America is hurtling towards a racial demographic shift that is reminiscent of Americas puberty years but its now obvious midlife crisis is more volatile than ever before. The American society is not ready to deal with this schism and you can bet there is going to be a schism.

Obama (see how I haven’t mentioned anything political because I don’t know anything about politics?) ethnicity combined with his status as The Leader Of The Free World is going to herald in a chapter where race will be confronted and dealt with and there is going to be a hope that America will be looking at things a little bit differently.

I watched his Inauguration today and noticed that the program featured his fellow African Americans. I’m okay with that. This administration is going to change our ideas and assumptions about the colored people (colored as in black, brown, yellow, white, peach [the crayon I shamelessly used as a kid to color in White people], or even mauve). No doubt there will be backlash at what could be misconstrued as racial favoritism (a fancy term which in this case should probably mean I picked those people because they were my friends in the first place before they were Black) but back down…America is diverse…it has always been, it will always be, it is what makes this land great.

America has stumbled on its principles and actions here and there depending on who you talk to, but for me, the son of immigrants who sacrificed everything to come for Opportunity, the times will get better. And in my hopeful heart, I see President Obama leading this nation into an era where racial tensions will flare but under his guidance and prominent position as our Leader, we will make it through and step up again as a respected world leader, at home FIRST, and then abroad.