Wednesday, November 5, 2008

America: Congratulations!

"tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope."


This is your greatest contribution to the world: This nuclear attack on the core of your history!

You have redeemed yourself of the charge of racism; and in doing so, you have also broken the chains of self-hate for the children of the lesser god: the one who are not "white"!

This is the revolution of hope against cynicism.

I wish for you to make it work.

What I like most in your new president is his self-confidence together with his humility. His ego is as big as his ideals; which are inclusive of your nation and also of the world. Thus, while encompassing the ego of America they also divest it of the erosive American arrogance which has been plaguing the world for the past half century.

Because you are such a young, agile and flexible nation; and because you proved how sick of Bushism you are, and because Obama won I love you all this morning!

12 comments:

nunya said...

Nationally it's a good thing. Blackwater and the Mormon bigots won this particular battle in CA.
They have not won the war.
Civil rights groups challenge Prop 8 in court By Howard Mintz
Mercury News
Article Launched: 11/05/2008 11:30:43 AM PST

Unknown said...

Hey Naj,
Yep, and now the work begins to make him live up to this historic change.

Naj said...

Rick,

Just judging from the cleverness with which he ran his campaign, I think he knows what he is doing. I do not believe he is a man of empty promises; although he knows how to play the game 'right'.

Nevertheless, what needs watching is the 46% of people who REJECTED him, who didn't vote for him!

What needs watching is that Palin is even considered as a plausible candidate for 2012 ... that is the problem!

Pedestrian said...

I agree with everything! Except this: You have redeemed yourself of the charge of racism

If you decontextualize racism, or if look at racism in a political/economic frame, in America, it has been redirected, it has not been reduced.

And had it not been for his "white" half, the white grandparents and mother in every other ad ... I don't think his presidency would be a reality today.

But totally agree with everything else; ESPECIALLY the Sarah Palin comment.

Naj said...

Nunya: I am in the US now; and I cannot wrap my head arounf this H8 business! What's that?!

Pedestrian:

To give the Americans credit for having absolved themselves of racism; is also to ignore that in fact 46% of them did NOT vote for Obama; for whatever reason!

But, racism is not only an American phenomenon! And frankly, I think they deserve most credit in having overcome and shattered racist barriers, compared to a lot of other countries that do not wear "racist" badge; but are clearly so!

At least, in America there is a dialog about racism! In other places, it is "politely" ignored!

To have so many black people come out and vote for the first time is what is highlighting the significance of this, and the disenfrenchisement and distrust felt by African Americans.

Yesterday, some Canadian idiot on CBC's Radio One midday show was arguing that
"people didn't vote for Obama because he was black, but because he was educated; and also he is half white!"

This means that the "racism" has shifted into "culturalism", "nurturism". If you are Black, but you have a white-upbringing, then you are a part of the society!

But, racism in America, and in the rest of the world goes both ways. Black people are racist too!

This skin-awareness is something we are not exposed to in Iran! There, we live with all shades of skin colors; we are so mixed and mangled through history that we are simultaneously, Turk and Chinese and Mongoliam and Russian and African and Indian and Persian and Arab and what not. So, I am grateful for my unawareness of skin politics!

But, America, although enslaved men (let's keep remembering that the slavery started by Arabs, and in modern times continued by the Dutch who brought "labour" force to the US), FOUGHT to free them too.

So this, for me, is an ascent. It is a transcendence from skin-politics because while fully aware of the racial divide in the US, Obama did not campaign on race!

The power of a man, who brings hope to all skin-colors of the world is not to be underestimated. For me the "victory" is in the tears of people around the globe ... who for a moment have sighed ... "we are not automotons yet"

And today, in America, everyone seems happy ... well I am in MA, so maybe I am imagining!

MarcLord said...

Thank you, Naj.

Pedestrian said...

I agree with you Naj, but I would give the "racism" you name a different term: "racism towards African Americans" (or something like that).

Because racism in America has just begun its redirection towards other communities. As long as the state continues reaping benefits out of a particular group/ethnicity, this cycle will go one. Racism will go on and flourish.

I think it is the gargantuan political/economic machines behind acts of racism that are the most fundamental. It was the economics of slavery that made it such a significant trade.

I am not comparing Muslim/Middle Eastern Americans to slaves. That is preposterous. But I think this very "racism" has been redirected in other ways towards them. And not just them alone - but their brothers and sisters back home. Because it is one of the "blessings" of globalization that we no longer have to have our "slaves" on our own territory. They can be a million miles away from our lands ... but are fundamentally functioning in the same way.

And although Fox news and our racist neighbors may contribute, it is the underlying political/economic/social actions of the state that drive it.

I don't think any form of widespread racism can be separated from the actions of the state. The neighbours may help it, but they are not the fuel that burn it.

Race in Iran was never (at least not in the same proportions and not in the past few centuries) an economic trade sponsored by the state. I think that is one of the greatest reasons for our unawareness of skin politics.

Naj said...

Pedestrian:

You say:
"Race in Iran was never (at least not in the same proportions and not in the past few centuries) an economic trade sponsored by the state."

and before that:
I am not comparing Muslim/Middle Eastern Americans to slaves. That is preposterous. But I think this very "racism" has been redirected in other ways towards them. And not just them alone - but their brothers and sisters back home. Because it is one of the "blessings" of globalization that we no longer have to have our "slaves" on our own territory. They can be a million miles away from our lands ... but are fundamentally functioning in the same way.

Are you trying to say that the Middle Easterners are enslaved by the indirect oil-colonization?

In my opinion, if economics create a stereotypical racial profile, it doesn't mean that the state is behind it.

In iran, there is an ethnic labour stereotypical profile about Afghans (construction workers). In the US about Latinos (cleaners). In Canada about Italians (construction workers). In England about Indians (servers).... In Holland about Morrocans (thieves). In GErmany about Turks. This is separate from racism; from politics of skin! This is an outcome of labour-based immigration. And the States, at least in modern times, have never engaged in such politics--perhaps except in South Africa and in Israel.

Naj said...

I see. Thanks for clarification.
Yes in this case, the state is fueling hatred; and is generating a new form of prejudice!

Of course, this is somewhat different from the enslaving that you were talking about before, i.e. the one on the premise of "economic" necessity.

This new phenomenon I think fits in the category of "culturalism" and not "racism". These people who hate Muslims now; used to hate Communists before that. This hatred is based on 'fear' and 'disdain'; and doesn't have "biological" basis as 'racism' has.

The states harvest ignorance to their benefit. And in many cases, they do not succeed. How successful has the Iranian state been in making you and I "hate" Americans?! NONE! How successful has America herself been in making you and I angry and grumpy? PLENTY!

nunya said...

Prop 8 is a ballot initiative that just added an amendment to the State constitution outlawing gay marriage. The ballot initiative advertising was paid for by Mormons, Evangelicals and right-wing fundamentalist Christian family of Erik Prince who founded Blackwater, the mercenary company that killed a bunch of people in Nisoor square, Iraq and is unaccountable to military law, Iraqi law, and American law. taxpayers pay for the mercenaries and now will pay to enforce a law that discriminates.

Damnable bible thumpers can bloody well fuck off for all I care.

Naj said...

Thanks Nunya ...

What I find peculiar is that they have reversed the law in CALIFORNIA! But, well, this is a sign that even in the most "liberal" of American states, America is a conservative (and religolous) country!

I just cannot state why marriage is such an important entity in the world! I think people should be allowed to make a decision on whom they want to share their life and fortune with; they can be two sisters, three men, 2 men and a woman, a man and a woman, whatever ... oh well, things will change, hopefully, someday ...

Monte said...

Thanks! And may this nation return your love to you and all Iranians someday.