President Obama & Japan

President Obama! That has a nice ring to it. I hope that African Americans become prouder today, and now that even an african american can be president, hope to build a better future together.

I think that pic is photoshopped – I don’t see any shadows from Obama on the placards behind him….

Dems vs. Republicans for Japan here, too: http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/11/03/seijigiri-50-japan-economic-stimulus-aso-us-relations/

カス大統領から希望の大統領へ・・・

チェーンジッ！

Since there is bugger-all on here about actual Japan, did anyone catch NHK’s report today on Obama City going apeshit [relatively] for Obama’s win? They’re purely in it for the local boosterism, of course, from what I gathered, but does anyone know if there was any serious engagement with the idea of an Obama presidency beyond the mere name value in the city?

Congrats to President-elect Obama.

it has taken 242 years for the glass ceiling to shatter.

This is a great day not only for African-Americans, Blacks, people of color or whatever term suits you but for those that never imagined that they could reach a higher ground.

As a Vet for Obama and a former-Republican, I find it disheartening that uninformed people throw the Marxist moniker around. What would Bush be called?

People have selective memory and tend to forget that 33% of Congress voted against the Civil Rights Act of July 2, 1964. A law that outlaws segregation in the US schools and public places and eventually helped those Americans in the struggle: the working class, Blacks, Asian immigrants, Native Americans, Latinos, women, and disenfranchised white and other “labeled” Americans; all of whom were deeply impacted by the decision to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. A decision that called on people of color and lower-economic status to fight for “right” when their rights were loss. Does this sound familiar in this day and age with the War on Terror?

Why are the diversified votes that put Obama in the White House important? Do the math, Blacks were asked to sign up for the draft to fight in Vietnam even before their voting rights were guaranteed!

Blacks were not ensured the right to vote until August 4, 1965. If you are an eligible Black voter and did not vote…. Well, I will let you finish the sentence. Remember, it was only 40-years ago that Blacks in certain parts of America could not even sit at the same counter and eat with Whites or drink from the same water fountain.

While many in American embraced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech of August 28, 1963, there are many, as Malcolm X quipped, that feel: “While King was having a dream, the rest of us Negroes are having a nightmare.”

Well now maybe we can wake-up and see that dreams do come true!

Now comes the hard part, cleaning the big house and fixing the mess that confronts America and the rest of the world.

(to view the rest of this article: http://www.blacktokyo.com/2008/11/04/a-new-pride-in-america/#more-1545)

Are you saying it has taken 242 years for a black man to become President of the United States? Even though the United States isn’t actually 242 years old?

Oops! Typo, that should have read 232. 2008 (US election) minus 1776 (date of US Declaration of Independence).

The glass ceiling will truly be broken when we can elect a president of any race, where race is no longer an issue; when we can elect a party, where partisan stigma is no longer an issue; and most importantly, when we learn to work, live, and fix our problems together, without simply worrying about it only once every four years.

True, so true! However, When President-elect Barack Obama and his family take up residence in the White House it means that he will move into every household in America. He will not be just some Black dude that moved in down the street in a predominately White neighborhood and his family will not become the new Cosby Show. President-elect Obama and his family moves on to prime time on the biggest channel in the world.

I have already heard the comments about a n*gger in the White House, the hoards of n*ggers in the streets last night, and how America is going to hell now. Any sensible person understands that the day of Obama’s win and for the years to come, that racism in all its forms, the stereotype of Blacks, the fear of the big dark negro with a huge ding dong, and all the other crap that idiots come up with will continue to exist. The racists may not say it in public or around a group of Blacks but trust me, they will continue to savor, I mean stew in, the Obama victory.

Obama’s win is a cultural moment not just a political moment! In the past I might have said, It’s a Black thang, you just don’t understand.” Now I can say, “It’s a Barack thang, and now he’s the man!” This man has an inclusive policy and hopefully those out there crying about the White House turning black will include themselves into a country that is moving forward.

The stock market declined today but the HOPE for many increased! It’s more than Barack Obama being Black and if some folks don’t get it, many around the world do! President-elect Barack Obama will not be a “Black President” he will be the “44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” That means in ALL US Government offices, a picture of a Black man goes up on the wall and will be placed first in all organization charts. Now what does that do to the psyche?!

Americans will not forget about the on-going struggles in their country. We know that we still have a long way to go. Tremendous progress was made on November 4, 2008 but the burden facing President-elect Barack Obama is huge. With that said, America did the right thing! Long live the non-violent revolution and here’s to a better future!

(The longer version of this reply is posted on Black Tokyo.)