The People's Daily, The People's Republic of China
How Barack Obama
'Reinforces the Sense of White Superiority'
Is Barack Obama's secret weapon his capacity to 'out-White' all the other
presidential candidates? According to this op-ed article written byDing Gang, said to be the senior desk editor of China's
strictly-controlled People's Daily:
"He has a different skin color
than Whites but shares the same 'American background.' … Rather than
symbolizing racial integration, he is a symbol of assimilation. So his rise,
far from doing away with the sense of superiority of White Americans, actually
reinforces it."
According to The Washington Post
in a review of sections of this article, the "name Ding Gang is
frequently assigned to important analyses in the People's Daily …
Chinese journalists said they believe it is a pen name used by senior editors
or other party propaganda officials conveying an official point of view ."
Senator Barack Obama's skin
color is the greatest focus of attention in the ongoing U.S. presidential
campaign. With half of his blood in his veins from African stock, the Democratic
nominee has been commended as a "star of change" who seems especially
dazzling and splendid after his recent victory in the primaries.
The Times of London
saw Obama's victory as evidence that the United States remains a land of opportunity .
"This moment's
significance is its resounding proof of the truism about America as a land of
opportunity: Mr. Obama's opportunity to graduate from Harvard and take
Washington by storm," the Times wrote.
It said that his victory also
demonstrates, "the opportunity that the world's most responsive democratic
system gives its voters to be inspired by an unknown; the opportunity that
outsiders now have to reassess the superpower that too many of them love to
hate."
The reason that the Western
media has heaped such undeserved praise on Obama is first, his skin color, and
second, the transformation he might bring. Hence it's thought that the election
of a young Black president will ideally highlight the "American
dream" and hopefully, be the best vehicle for altering the image of the
United States.
Indeed, Obama is far from the
core of mainstream American society, namely "White Anglo-Saxon
Protestants." But Obama won the primary race precisely because he didn't
emphasize his ethnic identity, intentionally drawing a clear distinction
between himself and more radical Blacks. Hence one could argue that Obama
triumphs because of his skin color and despite of it.
He has a different skin color
than Whites but shares the same "American background." Obama is a
superb talent - a gifted graduate from a top-rated American university. And
rather than symbolizing racial integration, he is a symbol of assimilation. So his
rise, far from doing away with the sense of superiority of White Americans,
actually reinforces it.
Of course, the status of
Black Americans has improved tremendously of late, certainly when compared to
the situation three or four decades ago. But these achievements are
attributable first, to the struggles waged by Black people themselves; secondly
to social progress as more and more White Americans became aware that racial
discrimination runs counter to historical trends; and thirdly, the acknowledgement
of the Black of mainstream of American values. Obama is no exception. That's
why he needs to display his American values more than any White presidential
candidate would.
Obama's embrace of an
"American background" offers us a better understanding of another of
his "charms", namely his youth and vitality. It seems that Obama is
more capable of meeting the general public's psychological need for change. The
likelihood of a turbulent election battle between a young Black lawyer and a
seasoned yet crafty White war veteran, and the widespread sentiment in the U.S.
for both a new start and renewed stability, gives Obama a distinct advantage
over McCain.
But
to borrow a message used by both the Clinton and Obama campaigns, perhaps the
final vote will come down to this: "It's 3am and the red phone in the
White House is ringing." If it's McCain who answers, it would be more
reassuring.
[China Daily, People's Republic of China]
In fact, the tension of the
coming presidential race won't be due to differences in the programs or
policies of the two candidates, but on the persuasive power of their respective
calls for major change. And since both Democratic and Republican presidential
hopefuls are expected to play the "reform" card, they both will also
confront the same constraints and find it difficult to distinguish
themselves.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Take the Iraq War, for
example. Obama's anti-war attitude is very strong. But in fact, it isn't clear
how to withdraw American forces from Iraq and, if they actually are pulled out,
how to cope with the internal turmoil in Iraq once that happens? No one
believes that strong resolve alone can bring resolution to such a complicated
issue. And similar hurdles to change exist in other areas like the economy,
social security and education.
Libyan ruler Muammar Qadhafi comments on U.S. democracy
and 'Kenyan brother' Barack Obama, at a ceremony marking the 38th
anniversary of the withdrawal of American forces from Libya, June 11.
Furthermore, American voters
aren't necessarily oblivious to the fact that each new president that takes
office discovers actually has a very limited capacity to fulfill the promises
made during the campaign. Social change may perhaps occur, but first the timing
must be right and the proper conditions must be present.
For both Obama or McCain, the
key question is how to give voters an exhaustive understanding of their
programs and win their confidence to achieve the eventual fulfillment of these
plans
As for observers of the
American election, one mustn't be dazzled by the change of actors on the stage,
but instead focus on the changes that those actors plan to bring.
[Editor's Note: Reporters Without Borders rates China's media as "Situation Very
Serious "].
