Barack Must Win, And Here's Why:

Edition #104 — March 21, 2008

Staying with the political theme of last month's newsletter, and at the risk of upsetting both Hillary Clinton supporters and women everywhere, I believe it is imperative that Barack Obama become the U.S. president, and here's why:

A World In Need Of Repair

Few can deny that there's trouble brewing for our collective future. We will all have some big problems to face and solve, as individuals, as nations, and even as a planet.

A major problem facing the U.S. now is how to rebrand itself in the Middle East as a free, Democratic society and not a selfish, money-grabbing poacher. What a handful of self-interested politicians and businessmen have broken must now be repaired by its people and their next leader. If other nations are to trust America again, a great healing must occur. A great healing.

The Scar Mangled Banner

The United States has always been admired throughout the world, setting an example for other democracies to follow. In the last eight years, that admiration has turned into hostility and hatred. Bush, Cheney, Halliburton — the names say it all, and their deeds have put an end to the world's facination with this once great nation. It has taken so little time to break something that took so long to build.

In 2008 and beyond, convincing war-weary, anti-U.S. nations to reconsider their opinions and shun violence as a means of negotiation will require a kind of openness in dialogue as has never been witnessed before. And it will require a lot of trust. It is my opinion that the male leaders of this volatile region of the world, the Middle East, won't be comfortable talking about their troubles with a woman. In the back of their minds they will always be thinking: "When is she going to make dinner?"

Shadows Over Distant Lands

In these traditional strongholds of misogyny (the oppression of women's power) also lies the greatest future threat to world peace. It is absolutely imperative to diffuse those lingering situations now which in the future may very well turn into nuclear warfare.

Hillary is smart, successful and would probably make a fine president if only all the world were civilized Democrats. But that shadow of anti-womanhood is looming over all future negotiating tables in the Middle East and Hillary must surely be aware of it too. I cannot imagine Hillary Clinton being taken seriously by a ruling elite of men raised in a tradition of gender intolerance. It does not bode well for her to step off a plane in countries where the mere site of an unveiled woman incites anger and outrage.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, is also an intelligent and successful candidate for the U.S. presidency with the added advantage of his multicultural appeal both at home and abroad. And for the purpose of this argument, his most important asset is being a man.

Being a man is an important distinction that Barack Obama, as a representative of the United States, can bring to the Middle East peace table. His colorful background makes him a President for all people and his gender ensures that his words and efforts will be taken seriously. Obama can offer a new vision of the future where bombs and death have failed to win over new friends.

Sure It's Unfair, But...

Please realize that my argument is valid only within that long-standing tradition of prejudice against women having power over men or even themselves. It is an unfortunate blight on our global history that Hilary Clinton will be dismissed in some key Middle East negotiations just for being a woman. It's not fair, it's not right, yet realistically, in the short term, the world — the whole world — is not quite ready for the first female president of the United States.

If 9/11 had not happened, we would not be worried about making peace because there would have been no cause for war, or at least none invented. And perhaps if she walked only on U.S. and European soil she would do a great job as the leader of her nation. But the first order of business when the Bush Posse leaves the White House will be to solve the U.S. identity crisis and the conflicts in the Middle East. And although Hillary Clinton may be well prepared, the Middle East certainly is not. There is little sense in voting for a candidate whose efforts, no matter how great, will only be met by resistance and prejudice. Barack Obama will not encounter this gender problem. No one will wonder why he dares to sit with men to decide the fate of their region.

That Other Guy

As for John McCain, I think he'd probably keep bombing simply because that's what his side of the legislature seems to prefer. It creates jobs, sells guns and influences the flow of Iraqi oil. They also don't seem to mind a little corruption in their politics as long as there are tax breaks to offer their favorite donors.

But this continous bullying from either side is not the road to peace nor victory. The world needs to invest in Barack Obama. The reasons are very clear. And if you listen to him speak you'll know that you're listening to a true leader, the kind of person who hasn't been seen in a very long time.

An Afterthought On Politics

What do I really think of politicians? Here's an anecdote.

One recent Christmas someone told me that they had bought a movie on DVD for me but had forgotten to bring it with them. Months later when I remembered the gift I asked about it and the person, obviously caught off guard and having hoped that I'd forgotten replied, "Uh...oh yeah."

As it turns out, they wanted to keep it for themselves but were willing to make a copy for me. Based upon past experience, I wasn't surprised. As Oprah once quoted a famous author: "People tell you who they are at the very beginning. We just have to believe them."

And in that same way, I know that politicians make their promises without regard of the aftermath because the immediate effect is what matters most to them. They say "I'm going to help you if you vote for me" and it makes them look kind, giving and thoughtful to the excited voters as they're lured into a sense of false anticipation. Yet when the election is over and the new leader is asked to deliver on those earlier promises, the reply always seems the same — "Uh...oh yeah."

(C'mon Barack, break with tradition.)




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