The Hope of a Nation
January 22nd, 2009 1
Over the last few days I’ve watched in awe the historic events in America. “Yes we can” said Obama, and yes he most certainly did. So now comes the uphill struggle of actually bringing into law so many of the things he’s promised, and a steep climb it looks set to be. But it seems like he’s captured the hearts and minds of not only a nation, but the entire world. As an American friend remarked “We can be proud again, no more pretending we’re Canadian”.
I find myself feeling proud of him, proud of what he’s achieved, but most of all proud of the hope he’s given to millions. But mixed with pride is an odd jealousy - I’m a little ashamed to say that I’m actually more interested in US politics than British at the moment. And why is that? It’s because I’ve lost hope. Hope in the system to affect any real change for our nation’s better.
Compared to Obama, Mr.Brown seems as charismatic as a wet dog. He neither inspires me nor gives me any real indication that he can help press into law changes this country so badly needs. In this time of economic downturn, we need a leader to lift us. We need someone with real conviction, and the moral fortitude to push for change. Heal the sick and feed the poor Jesus said, isn’t Obama’s ideal the embodiment of that? Religious or not, surly you must agree that these things are fundamental to a moral society?
Where do we go from here? What change can we as a people make? How do we make our voices heard to those that would govern us? How do we get our HOPE back?
One Comment (+0 in the moderation queue).
#1 On January 29th, 2009 at 1:37 pm Dan M said...
I am in total agreement - we are sadly lacking a leader of any real calibre, and it doesn’t look like there are too many options available to us when it comes to voting time.
Nobody is asking for perfection, but the political world seems filled with people who aim for power by appealing to our surface level values rather than our core.
I’m not asking for, or ever expecting perfection, but it would be great if somebody would step up to the task and not bore us with talk about how we’re going to put this plan or that into effect, carefully monitor and adjust taxes and government expenditure, but coax us out of our apathy, and appeal to our hearts.
I do not need another political expert telling me what he is doing, I hope for a leader - someone with charisma, with boldness, someone who will actually not pretend that he is doing things for our benefit when he is not, someone who will tell us that he is doing something because he believes it to be right, even though there is opposition, someone who will bloody well get on with it and take a hold of what used to be a great nation, and drag it by the scruff of its neck out of mediocrity and back into a place where the people will follow…
for that, we need something a bit more than Gentle Gordon, or Dreary David!