The 
2006
History Being Made!!
Available in Swedish and French
Watching CNN "live" here in Finland this morning, I never thought I would see the day, as a black french/american, that a man of color would ever be a nominee for the Presidency of the United States of America. Wow! Some who dislike him, some who are racists, some who are faithful republicans, will say what they will. Surely they have in the past and more will surely be commented on in the days to come. But whatever the case, this is a historic time for America.
I remember as a child, growing up in the States in the 50's and '60's and I have seen it all. Racism to the max. Assassinations, The Kennedy brothers. I was there in Dallas on that horrific day when the President was shot. My mother and I had just seen he and the First Lady pass before us, waving their hands in the Lincoln Continental.
Yes, I remember that fashion setting Pink Pillbox Hat and that marvelous Designer Original Dress she had on. We saw that Hugh 707 Presidential Jet land at Dallas Love Field Airport and what a day it was as a teenager seeing such things happening right before my very eyes.. Kennedy was the hope for all black folks, well all minorities back in those days...
My mom took me to lunch and to our shock, we heard the news of what had happened... That was a sad day for all races, but for us blacks, that was tough. Then his brother Robert. And of course Martin Luther King. Just unbelievable how man can treat another human being. Man's inhumanity to man.
And here we are today. Much good has happened in the world, but a lot of bad as well and the bad is what seems to really make the News. Hopefully we will not have to endure such things as another assassination in the future. But this is a fact that Obama likewise has to deal with.
There are people in America that just will not let there be peace and having a black man as President has already outraged many there. Even some of my closest white friends are always e-mailing me all the negative newspaper articles about Obama, and I have yet to hear one say anything good about him, outside of my non-white American friends.
When I see Obama, of course I am proud. This was never in a small black boys' thinking, growing up in the south in America. Some today want to believe what they read in the papers as the Gospel Truth! They just open a magazine or see on TV the News and immediately, assume all that they see and hear is true. And we know all too well that this is not always the case.
In any case, time will tell if Obama is the right man to lead America. But we have to give him a chance to prove that. And what a test it will be for him. For any Presidential candidate that title is a heavy one to wear, because the world is looking and waiting.
There are people out there that want to see the horrific things where done back in the 60's, re-done again today. And these things are happening not just in the States, but all over the world. So I praise Barrack for having the boldness, to stand, in the midst of all the opposition, and to speak boldly, with his wife beside him, of his dreams for all Americans, not just the minorities. We are all human and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
It is obvious by the reactions of the people there, that they want change. I am amazed to see the support that he has there and see that there is still a place in the dictionary for the word: "Hope".
Whether Obama wins or not, remains to be seen. But miracles still happen. I have seen them and believe.
The last Administration has really put a stain on America in the eyes of many there, as well as around the world. As one being born into a french family, but being raised as a child in the States and now having the privilege of living here now, and no matter where I travel in my work, usually I hear nothing but disdain and negative responses from folk, even some of my dear friends, about Americans and their opinion of us. Naturally that hurts, even when what they often say is untrue or unfounded. Most of them have never lived there and only go by what they read.
It would be the same if I bad-mouthed Finland when speaking to Finns. There are yes, things that could be improved here as well as in any nation, but we are blessed here and I chose to stick with the positive and try to stay in that mode. I think that should work for all of us, no matter where we live. Believe it or not, it could be worst. Just look at some countries and what they are going through...
Being an evangelist, I cannot write something it seems, without going into the preaching speed! Forgive me for that but I like you, I want to express my opinion. Thank God for Democracy! But as far as Obama is concerned, we do not know what will happen as the election approaches.
Who will I vote for? "Mums the word"! But I do believe that America is ready for a change, as Obama himself preaches. We need to get back to our christian principles, the ones on which America was founded. Somehow, it has gone far astray and needs to get back to respecting all people of all lands, starting with it's own.
Change? Amen to that!
Christian-Charles de Plicque
Journalist
Österbottens Tidning (Northern Finland's Daily Newspaper)
june 2008
www.deplicque.net
