Election Night Obama party

Election night I ended up at an Obama party. The bar was full of Americans and had a ‘Bush’ piñata – very funny in its conception (although a little scary once the beatings started!!) Perhaps this was the effect of the Mescal: which was passed around freely once Obama had scored the golden 270. The whole of the West coast turned out blue. So if the people I have met are true to their word there may be some American retirees heading over to the UK.

I find the distribution of colour fascinating. The less populated central areas maintaining their red status. I am intrigued by these states. Apparently many of the young people here are the ones that are currently falling out of the system and failing to achieve. They have been described to me as clinging to a ‘red neck’ culture that is rejected by many and thus excludes them. I guess if the country is to maintain its United Status then this is a pattern and problem that will need to be addressed. It can only be a dangerous situation if a generation of young people are excluded thus. Why I am I drawn to teach here? The coastal regions are predominantly ‘Blue’, perhaps influenced historically by a larger immigrant population? Anyway: just another thing I realise I know little about.

The only other factor I was struck by was the focus by McCain on Obama’s Afro-American status. I know that historically and, until frighteningly recently, culturally and economically there has been a class divide in the states based upon race – and if the media is to be trusted on this remains: as was shown in the case of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans; I have to say it was not something I was particularly struck by during my time on the West Coast. My question was what about the millions of Asian – Americans and Meso/ South Americans living in the states at present. Is it a case of are you a black or a white Asian? Like it has been are you a catholic or protestant Buddhist in Ireland. Ie. It concerns me that this dividing line is drawn. We all know that in reality nothing is black and white and that we all exist on a spectrum; all of us interconnected and interdependent. This was, I felt, a rather dangerous focus point.

The better and undoubtedly safer parts of the losers speech, were those enticing respect and offering goodwill and support to the opposing party. Still, I am not naïve enough to expect that this view will be simple enough for, nor acceptable to all. One only had to look at their faces on TV. However, I would be surprised to think that the US voters were particularly voting for a president simply because of skin colour; although undoubtedly it is a point that the media have picked up on and it has certainly added to the monumental achievement and sense of movement and feeling of a real fresh start for a country that, I feel, senses it has been taken along a course and become something undesirable.

Now that Obama has won I guess I feel slightly more at liberty to say what an amazing time in America’s history this has been to visit. I have not met so many young people so excited by an election in a long time and I truly hope that this makes for a peaceful and prosperous time in the history of America and the rest of the word. I loved overhearing an American saying to a fellow Brit: “Does this mean you’ll hate us less now?”. How cute! But this is it… Americans have felt hated by the rest of the world because of some political decisions their leaders have made. I guess we all have our things. As a European; mine is the fact that ‘my’ predecessors colonized a load of other countries and helped created false boundaries and thus probably initiated a series of conflicts that they then fueled by providing arms for. It’s not a great thing, and is something I’d like to think we’ve learnt from and have moved on from.

At least now for certain Americans have something new to be proud of. Even if my insanely cynical side considers to suggest that it is possible this is mere propaganda to entice people to believe that they do in fact live in and effective and active democracy where change is possible and led by the people, but then I’m sure this is just the type of paranoia that fuels conspiracy theories we know are ‘make believe’. Still, I am really pleased J . The best thing I heard from the TV commentators last night was that Che Guevara had endorsed Obama. I am entirely drawn to say: ”Long live America” and I truly hope this brings about a new and positive stage in world politics and international relations. Lord knows we need it!

Just in the balance: whilst the US watched with bated breath for their new president to be named, a Mexican foreign affairs minister’s plane “fell” out of the sky over Mexico City killing him; all passengers and several people on the ground and creating a massive fire. OK.. I guess this one may go un-noticed as most media coverage on election night, but scary stuff!

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