Down to the Wire
Well! our American neighbours are about to elect a new President. The end of the Bush presidency is in view. If Canadians, or people in almost any other country of the World had a vote, Obama would win hands down. Only, in America, is it considered even close.
If I had a vote I would vote for Obama. When is all began he would have not been my first choice. I liked Denis Kucinich, one of the few real progressive politicians. Later,as the choice narrowed, I liked Governor Richardson, with his vast foreign affairs experience. Now the choice is Obama or McCain. It is a no brainer.
Obama is an intelligent articulate person. He has a vison for the US. He is a prgmatist and not driven by ideology with slogans for solutions. He believes he will surround himself with intelligent progressive people who will given him good advice. He will listen to a broad range of advice and make rational decisions. He can put an intelligent sentence together, even paragraphs, and an uplifting articulate address, without muffing the English language. the US has had enought of a President who is a "common man", it needs an uncommon man who is smarter than most of us.
Obama is not without disappointment for me.
One of the most disappointing is that he has shunned Muslims. In the face of being accused of being a Muslim he has not said he has Muslims in his family, of whom he is proud. And, if he were a Muslim he would be proud to admit he was; for, Islam is one of the great religions of mankind with many values it shares with Christianity and Judaism. It took Colin Powell in his endorsement of Obama to say what had to be said. Being a Muslim in America is part of the ethnic/religious mix of the nation and Muslim have every right to participate fully in the society including believing one of their number could some day run for President. Muslims now outnumber Jews in the US. Why did no one actively seek the Muslim vote.? It could have made a difference in Michigan.
Obama failed to publically defend his friend Dr. Khalili when he was spoken of as a "terrorist" when in fact he is a well respected Palestinian-American scholar on the Middle East. For Obama to shrink from defending Islam shows a degree of a lack of moral courage. I hope, when President, he shows more courage. he needs to show leadership in helping Americans to overcome their Islamophobia. Dr Khalili's books are worth reading. Obama could have encourage people to do so.
In Mosul, Iraq, when the Christian community came under attack and many fled the city, many Muslims were concerned for their neighbours plight and tried to help them. Why! Well is it required in Islam to be particularly protective of Christians for in its early history the Christians protected the Prophet. Here is Sunshine, a charming teenage Iraqi blogger writing about this.
The last two orders that our prophet gave before he died were to be kind with women and to protect and treat the Christians the best way, because they supported the prophet and protected him with his followers, we own them forever otherwise it will consider a discrepant(sic) for his will..
Mosul citizens helped as much as they could, by raising amounts of money, bought food, matrixes, and necessary things and took them to villages where their friends and neighbors were staying, it is not a charity or so, it is our job to help each other, and support each other, I wish I'll wake up tomorrow and find everything good, no more battles, killing and threatening..
It is past the time to reciprocate : we should stand up for our Muslim neighbours beginning with President Obama.
I would prefer if Obama were a political progressive. He is spoken of by his detractors as among the most liberal legislators and even a possible Socialist. This makes me laugh. He is no Socialist. Those who accuse him of being one just demonstrate their ignorance. He is a right of center liberal which would place him in the middle of the American political spectrum. In Canada, he might be thought of a progressive conservative (Once the name of our current Conservative party) on the basis of his political programs from foreign policy (militarily aggressive and wedded to Israel) to his half way measure for a health care plan. His plan, like McCain's supports private insurers. To realize the savings necessary for a truly universal health plan private insurers and the profit motive must be elliminated. he needs to listen to the health care professionals who prefer a single payer universal health care program. Canada has a fine health care syatem that cost 1/2 per person the US system does. The US is the only liberal democracy that does not have a government funded program which makes it unheard of for people to all they own due to illness . Here you will find two videos worth watching.
I am disappointed that Obama has not forcefully declared he will end torture and close the prisons around the World holding political prisoners. Those prisoners who will not be charged with a crime should be sent home. If they cannot go home for some reason, like the Chinese Muslims, they should be invited to come and stay in the US. They are the US responsibility. I will be disppointed if Obama does not end this shame on America in his inaugral address.
He needs to tell the American people that he will begin to repair the damage done to the Constitution by the Bush Administration, beginning with a investigation of illegal and criminal behaviour. War crimes need to be prosecuted in the US before the International Community tries them in the International Criminal Court. Only when the US, faces up to the damage done by the Bush Administration can it's reputation as a just and well respected World leader be restored. With the Democratic party dominating all three branches of the Federal government, the opportunity to restore the Nation fully is possible.
Like most people around the World, I shall be watching the election results with a keen interest and a hope for the Great Republic. We all pray that Barack Obama is up to the task and will rise to the occasion. The World has great expectations.
posted by Tossing Pebbles in the Stream @ 8:13 a.m.
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8 Comments:
You have followed this thoroughly. To me it's simple: if something isn't working, you change it. And something sure isn't working down there. Let's keep everything crossed, shall we?
Sir , i am very much surprised to come across such a positive and honset piece of work, this is the first time some one has said something positive and truthful about Islam, as you know there are thousands of anti, Muslim, Islam webs, and for this i would ask Allah to bless you for your kind efforts, may you have a wonderful life.Perhaps people at Faith freedom , Islam Watch , Jahid Watch can take leaf from your site, may Allah also guide them.
Bravo, Philip... Of course, you know where I stand... and tomorrow I will sit - outside the polls for about 6 hours with Obama info and a list of lawyers in the area who will be making sure everyone gets their fair chance at voting. I was turned away one year because I could not remember my new house #!
And you know where I stand on Islam. I understand Obama staying away from it as there are still emails circulating everyday saying he is a Muslim. I no longer get them since people have finally heard me say loud and clear that my daughter, grandson and SIL are Muslims and doctors who heal, not kill.
I lived in Turkey a number of years and was treated like royalty. I never met anyone rude or obnoxious, they were so kind and patient with me as I struggled pathetically with the language. Only my best friend laughed at me, but she did it with love because sometimes my errors were hilarious! Sometimes they were naughty! Interesting language...
Yes, Obama has been less than perfect BUT in comparison... Lord, have Mercy!
I am optimistic - Inshallah! - But, I got my Canadian T shirts out just in case I have to make a run for the border.
You will get your wish with no problem. It will be a landslide but I fear what comes with his win. I wish we had a better choice since I am not happy with either.
Philip,
A truly honest outlook on the US election and Obama. Thank you. I am praying for the US today, as they go to the polls to elect a new President.
Hope all is well with you.
Blessings,
Mary
I voted for Obama. He wasn't my first choice, but Hillary wasn't selected, so ... There's no way we could vote for a continuation of the GW years. He has destroyed our country and the thought of it continuing makes me want to run north.
Well, Philip--as it turns out, it WASN'T close in the U.s.
President-elect Obama.
My, oh my.
My country "did me proud" -- as they say.
Kucinich was my first choice as well. I agree that it was disappointing of Obama not to acknowledge his Muslim heritage, but it would have been political suicide. Our country is still very racist and "religionist" if I can make up a word here. It's sad really. My mother was all worried about his potential Muslimism (I'm full of it today aren't I?), and I said that given the monumental damage done to our country by the so-called born-again Christian white President in the last 8 years, I'd prefer a Muslim. She took the point.
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