I meant to add these thoughts a couple of weeks back once they occured to me, but I have been too busy with the mundane to allow myself some writing time...
With the American primaries taking over the news, I have been especially following the Democrats. What, with a woman running and an African-American man running, both with their chances, it is a double first in American politics! Even though I cannot vote, not being a US citizen yet, I am still deeply interested in these elections.
If I could vote, I would cast my ballot for Obama. Now, some may ask, why not for Hillary? She is a woman, you are a woman too, can't you stand for your own kind? Can't you help make a woman get the most powerful job in the world? Well, if Obama was not running, I'd say: "Sure, I'll support Hillary" but Obama is running...
Amongst the many reasons, I'd support Obama, is the fact that his hands are not as dirty as Hillary's. One cannot help thinking of Whitewater, of the White House aide who committed suicide...Then one takes notice of how Bill, the former president, has been helping her run her campaign, and how distateful his attacks have been, how angry and red he looked... So one could not help thinking that she was relying too much on her husband's fame and charisma, which does not give out an image of a strong woman. Again, when she shared a few tears, exposing her so-called vulnerability and emotion, it was hard not to think that she was being manipulative: anything to win, even the female soft touch?!
Finally, what blew me was this article I read in the Washington Post after Super Tuesday. Some woman was being interviewed and she said that she would not "turn the world over to my 46 year old son-in-law" and therefore would certainly not vote for a 46 year old candidate. The lady being interviewed was 67...I felt angry and humiliated. This, to me, is another proof that, being born in 1962, I feel, just like Obama, that I am still looking forward, to the future, and therefore am more akin to the generation coming after me, than attuned to a 67 years old probably wealthily retired baby boomer. Then I thought: "Wait a minute! How old was Kennedy when he ran? How old was Clinton himself?" This lady obviously has some serious memory problems...Alzheimer? If she thinks so badly of a 46 year old candidate, what can she think of a 20 year old geek CEO? Do we have to wait until arthritis, osteoporosis and Alzheimer have set in, to run the world? What about Reagan, the best example of senility in power? Lady, why don't you go and manage the local nursing home, be with your peers, and let us provide for your Medicaid!
