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History in the Making

I am a Black Canadian who has been paying some attention to the Barack Obama/John McCain election. I normally don’t pay too much attention to these types of political events, but this event is historic. That we could have the first Black American President in my lifetime is historic. And in a country fraught with racism like America is, is truly a historic event—much like Nelson Mandela’s 1990 release from a 27-year prison to become, four years later, the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully representative democratic elections.

Now many will say that race doesn’t or shouldn’t matter in this election but let’s get real. This entire election has been more about race than it has been about any other issue. It is sad that in 2008 that is the reality, but America is what it is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing America. I am just stating facts.

Canada doesn’t fare much better on these issues. We have never had a Black politician even run for the country’s top role of Prime Minister. Blacks have had minimal representation on Canada’s political stage though the issues that plague the Black community—gun, drugs, absentee fathers, poverty, unemployment—have a significant impact on the rest of the country with cities such as Halifax, Toronto, Windsor and Brampton experiencing higher incidences of violent activities that spill over to affect the general population.

All eyes are on this election. November 4, 2008 could be the dawn of a new world. It could mean real change in the way America participates in the world—no longer as a bully with strong arm tactics—but more as an equal partner.

Whether Barack Obama wins is moot as this point. Change has already started to happen.

Many have written and spoken about the power of the mind to change realities and to create a better world. Image the opulent world we could create if we used our mind for these purposes.

Thought in the mind hath made us. What we are by thought was wrought and built. If a man’s mind hath evil thought,
pain comes on him as comes the wheel the ox behind.
If one endure in purity of thought, Joy follows him as his own shadow – sure. –As A Man Thinketh by James Allen–

These are interesting times.

C. Carol Brown

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