It is obvious that world peace is on Barack Obama's radar. He spoke of it often during his campaign and he has demonstrated his commitment by taking on the problems in the Middle East. But we must not be satisfied with seeking a just peace, as the language emanating from the President seems to indicate. We must look for a lasting peace.
All of this must be viewed in the context of his historic election. It is more important what Americans have become than the fact that the president is biracial or black.
By electing Barack Obama while whites are still a majority in the United States Americans have demonstrated that they have come to the point where they can recognize the humanity of each individual. If we desire a lasting peace we must nurture this awakening.
All wars stem from a refusal to recognize the humanity of others and peace depends on our ability to recognize the same.
We need a peace that cannot be broken. We must take note that our conflicts were caused by humans who were once peaceful.
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Aren't you assuming that the 53% voted for BO rather than against JM? And that the 47% voted against BO rather than for JM? Does your assumption about the basis for their vote tally with, say, exit interviews or retrospective discussions with voters? The country was at a point of extremity. Extremity pushes people to decisions they might not take under ordinary circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that BO had to come through the hotly contested Democratic primaries. He did not clinch the nomination of the Democratic party because Americans chose to cast votes against the other contenders.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, it is true that crisis is often the catalyst for change. This point is very well made by Kuhn in Structure of Scientific Revolutions. We will hold on to the status quo until it is nearly disastrous to continue doing so.
"Conflict were caused by humans who were once peaceful". I was going to differ but now this got me thinking
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