The Obama Victory

First, congratulations are in order to Barack Obama, the under 50 American President to be. He is a first in many things. Of course , he is the first black American or afro American to become the US president. The land which not too long ago persecuted the blacks. This was the land Rosa Parks fought to ride in a bus meant only for whites. The land not only of Uncle Tom a long time ago, but also the land of Marthin Luther King and yet also of Malcolm X, Angela Davis, Huey Newton and Bobby Seal. Its also the land of Jesse Jackson and the reverend Al Sharpton.

Obama is many things to many people. To the people of Kenya he is one of them. The father came from there. He was born in Hawaii and so the Aloha land can claim Obama as one of theirs. Indonesians also feel proud of him because Indonesia was associated with Obama during his childhood. Even the people of Sabah has an affinity with him because his half sister married a chinaman who has become a Canadian and whose parents come from Sabah. Of course in Japan, there is a town called Obama whose inhabitants recently made celebrations of Obama.

In the enclaves of the watering holes in Bangsar, Bukit Bintang and so forth, Obama’s victory was celebrated just for the indefinable feel good sensation. The cafe-latte liberals, the smoked salmon socialists, the Dom Perignon liberals, the caviar crowd, the champagne- connoisseurs and the BMW Bolsheviks all found a reason to make merry.

Hence Obama, symbolises many things- as many things as people feel and like Obama to represent. A Fareed Zakaria will see the victory of Obama as a triumph of rationality over bigotry and a triumph of his pet liberal democracy over un-democracy. People will generally identify Obama’s victory as a victory and a everything is possible prep motivation to achieve the impossible. Its Ain’t no mountain high enough time.

This everything is possible and nothing is impossible attitude will resonate well with a pro-active and rejuvenated America. Obama’s administration will be marked by a sharp rise in American activism. Which is to foist onto other people, the Obama’s mystique of levelling everything in its path.

Obama’s victory will usher in a new activism in the form of America becoming a policeman of the world, reprising a much despised so- yesterday role. This time, it will determine what is right and wrong based on new liberal ideas. Obama’s America will play the role of prosecutor, judge and executioner.

So while the rest of the world is enthralled in jubilation and enjoins mankind in offering salutations and congratulatory messages to Obama, take heed too.

So when Malaysia says it hopes to get a fair trade arrangement with America it can expect trade arrangements with so many strings attached. Liberalisation of trade, global warming sanctions, more American style democracy, American version of rule of law, removal of special privileges for bumiputeras etc.

For Obama’s cabinet will likely be filled with hawkish Neo-Libs. Oh yes, we were derisive of the neo-cons during the last outings, so now fasten our seat belts for the Neo-Libs.