opinion

Obama, Clinton & McCain
by Clarence E. Pilgrim

It is said that ideas and passion are two of the driving forces that generate and motivate most people. Humanity's quest for excellence in all spheres of existence goes beyond each successive generation and transcends the limitations of the life and death cycles and the effects of nature and the environment. Every so often leaders with strong characters mixed with the right work ethic and fueled by moral courage are able to accurately represent the hopes and aspirations of those around them. They are able, through a message of hope and change, to bind people of different backgrounds, status, cultures and social orientations together into communities, and communities into states, and states into countries and, so it is hoped, spread the message to the entire global village.

United States presidential candidate Barak Obama is a man whom America and indeed the rest of the world should look on as a fresh wind of change, just waiting to make his impact on the future. Whether he wins the elections or not, he has indeed already left an indelible mark. His well-reasoned message of hope is helping to push back the frontiers of pessimism and hate. Obama's March 17th speech on racism was an excellent example of what real leadership is about. He not only distanced himself from the apparent mind-set of a close advisor, but he clearly sought to show that his ideals transcend the thoughts of those who would live in a tainted past, while not seeing the present day roses growing in a garden full of rocks.

The speech was a defining moment in this already historic election campaign. Along with Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain are formidable and capable candidates. But what is very clear is that Obama's appeal continues to remain strong among the grass roots of America, moving millions of disillusioned people from the path of apathy to a magnificent source of inspiration.

This campaign has caught the imagination of so many, who want to be a part of history. It may give the United States its first female or the first African-American president --- or return conservatives who seem to be on the run to the White House.

It is unfortunate that among the Democrats, a decision was taken by the Clinton campaign to attack and malign Obama. This is a move that can only lessen the party's chances in the presidential race, and give Republican McCain the opportunity of a clear walk through the debris of self-implosion.

Barack Obama is the personification of a progressive cultural rainbow, which is a clear indicator that the future potential of our human civilization has now arrived.

As a concerned spectator, I can only hope that the electorate makes an informed decision and does not succumb to the lure of commercials with phone calls before the sun comes up, or questionable questions raised about one's experience to be president. The reality is that NONE of the presidential hopefuls have ever had to sit in the White House and make executive decisions. The reality is that each of them, for better or worse, would have to go through a learning curve if he or she becomes president.

In a world of many issues, including post-9/11 acts, millennium development goals, climate change and HIV, there needs to be strong and decisive leadership to chart a safe course through troubled times. Such leadership can only be based on hope.

The author is an educator and a senior officer in the Antigua & Barbuda Civil service