Barack Obama South Carolina Victory Speech Part 1

For those of you that have the time to spare the second part of his speech can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBdRdIEa7AM

I’m still a little worried that if he were to win the thing overall he might pull the rug from underneath a shaky but recovering Iraq, and his protectionist policies could lead us all into another depression. But. This guy is starting to grow on me. They recon that 50% of white Democrats between 18 and 29 voted for this guy in South Carolina and most of them that did held university degrees. I’m starting to actually think there might be something in his rhetoric of a ‘change we can believe in’.

Not only that but he can actually talk. I know the clip below is of a very poor quality – but I watched this live on CNN as he said it and I must admit, a slight shiver went down my spine. Hilary has never done that. This guy really is a good thing. I have been reluctant to support him against Hilary because I am sure America is still a century away from electing a black man. Because if you’d heard even a portion of the conversations I heard bright, young college students in Arkansas have – you’d be surprised they even let the guy talk. Let alone run for president.

While I still have a soft spot for McCain, I actually want Obama to win the Democratic nomination, and not only that – I want him to become the next President. Sad as it is George Bush’s reputation has blinded the world to the good things he has actually done (regime change in Afghanistan and Iraq, the defection of Libya into the Western camp and tough action on Aids for example). So again, sad as it is, merely the act of electing this young black man to the top office would do wonders at restoring America’s reputation.

And I believe right now the world needs a more likable America more than it needs one which has sensible policies on Iraq and the economy. Then once he has worked his charm on the world you can ditch him and get in a Republican to actually get on with running the world.

But until then, Obama’s my man.

The sunset years

So this will be news to nobody, but it is something that has become increasingly apparent to me in the last few weeks.

‘The West’ is losing at its own game. People have been saying for years that ‘The East’ will run the future. America’s days as the unchallenged world power are over.

Take a look at what is going on. We in Europe, with all our fancy Art History degrees and cappuccinos are sitting back and watching the initiative slip away from us. Indian engineers are developing the $1000 car and politicians in oil rich Dhabi are beginning the worlds largest alternative energy program and thereby ensuring their economic success stretches beyond the oil age. Malaysia is putting satellites up in orbit almost as quickly as China is practicing shooting them down. New Delhi has built itself an air condition subway system while London falls over its own red tape and labour unions when it tries to even tinker with the edges of its. India churns out engineering and science graduates like Ford used to produce Model T’s. Young students in Paris go on the warpath when a mildly reformist president suggests that perhaps it shouldn’t be a birth right for rich white kids to receive rich white kid jobs upon graduation.

Having fought fascism in Europe and communism in Asia the West (or America more accurately) has done more than anyone to gift ‘The East’ its opportunity.

Now they are not just playing our game, they are beating us at it.

How we respond will be the most important question of the next century. Will we be like the kid who having invited his neighbour round to play, knocks the table over when he begins to lose? Or will we take it on the chin, shake hands and gracefully admit defeat and promise to try much harder next time?

The power of sin

I have stumbled upon a new justification for excessive altruism. Jealousy. By going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that everyone we know, both our friends and our enemies, maximise their own potential we can create the conditions for stirring jealousy within ourselves.

Now jealousy happens, it’s human and no amount of bible bashing is ever going to make it go away. I personally get jealous all the time. If someone I happen to consider a complete berk achieves something that has long eluded me, or I hear rumours that someone I’m not overly keen on is doing well – I get jealous. It even happens with my best friends. If a best friend lands a fantastic job that involves travelling around the world, fighting poverty, speaking a thousand different languages and getting paid an hourly wage equivalent to several small villas in Florida – I am of course going to be thrilled for them. I’ll buy them a drink, wish them well and genuinely be happy. But there will always be a little voice in the back of my head, which while in no way detracting from heart felt happiness for them, will always say, ‘heck – why aren’t I doing that well?’

Now I am not going to comment on the morality of all this, but I happen to find that little voice quite motivating. Far from going home and having a good old-fashioned cry that I have committed sin simply by being human I tend to go home, clear my desk and redouble my efforts. I don’t think this is as a malicious or destructive a motivating force as it seems, nor do I think a mild bout of jealousy from time to time is destined to forever make a person unhappy. In my darkest hours when nothing seems worth it and throwing in the towel seems like the only way out, I often find myself drawing on this force to drive me onwards. The mental image of wiping the smile off my rivals smug, fat little face can do wonders for my motivation levels.

So well in fact that it becomes helpful to assist these smug little fat fellers in doing well, just so it gives me a target to aim for myself.

It’s not something I’m particularly proud of. But I can see it doing no harm to anyone.

I guess assisting others just so I can aim to overtake them at a later date doesn’t actually qualify as altruism at all now does it? Oh well.

I’m happy being a bastard.

Democratic suicide

Please dear God, don’t let Obama win the New Hampshire Primary.

I have little or no preference between Obama or Hillary, all I know is that if the Democrats are dumb enough to choose a black man as their representative then the next eight years of world history will be dictated by a Republican. And as huggable and funny as Huckabee is, I really don’t want his religious dogma to get yet more Brits killed as we run around trying to patch up the cracks in the western world.

So here’s hoping.

Come on Hilary x

I am so angry. Huckabee!? - HUCKABEE!?!?

What the - ?

Not content with making the first eight years of the 21st century some of the most shameful in human history, the Americans decide to vote for a christian fascist who makes Bush look like a moderate. Evolution? What's that? Black folk? Curse of ham for them once again.

Unbelievable. Totally unbelievable.