2Pac: Changes

I was recently in Africa and it inspired me to write about the elections in the US. Funny isn't it? Shouldn't I be writing about Zimbabwe or the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, or the March-April-May violence in Kenya or the democratic downturn in Namibia? Well, I decided to talk about what people are talking about in Africa, not what BBC is talking about. That's how Africa is. We don't discuss the political issues too close to home. HIV/AIDS pandemic, Malaria deaths, the insane number of deaths on the roads, the democratic downturn as said before... But Obama, he's an interesting topic, not too close to home but still among the issues of Pan-Africanism.

So here it goes, no I'm not a believer. I think America simply hasn't changed that much. Even though millions cry foul for the Bush extremism.

Some one year ago, maybe more, I wrote to my former collegue who works in the Democratic Party in the US. I told him, sarcastically and certainly lookin down upon the level of civilisation in the US, that, Americans will never vote for a black man who's name is Osama... sorry Obama. And that the Democrats are crazy to think otherwise. And I furthermore continued that McCain would be the best bet currently to win.

Not that I wouldn't vote for Obama, would I have a vote for choosing the "leader of the free World".

Well, I have been proven wrong ever since, haven't I. I would have NEVER guessed that already more than 14 million votes have been cast to Obama and that he would have won the Democratic nomination. That was simply beyond me and what I understood of America. But today, in June 2008, I write, is that enough? 60million votes are needed to become the President of The United States.

Of course, Mrs. Clinton is or would bring in more votes, but the fact is also that not all of those votes cast to Hillary are going to combine for Obama and Clinton ticket. And therefore slipping votes are also needed from the Republican side. Republicans need to vote for Obama-Clinton rather than McCain and whoever he's running with in order for Obama to win. That seems impossible, because the Republicans that don't like McCain are the Christian Fundamentalists and currently Obama doesn't even have a Church to call his own. So I believe, the Christian fundamentalists rather don't vote at all than start voting for Obama.

So summa summarum, America simply isn't ready for the black President. Quoting 2pac famous lyrics: "We ain't ready, to see a black President, uhh It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks" The incarcarated don't have the right to vote in the United States.

I hope and pray I'm wrong once again.

I see no changes all I see is racist facesmisplaced hate makes disgrace to racesWe under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place, let's erase the wastedTake the evil out the people they'll be acting right'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonightand only time we chill is when we kill each otherit takes skill to be real, time to heal each otherAnd although it seems heaven sentWe ain't ready, to see a black President, uhhIt ain't a secret don't conceal the factthe penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacksBut some things will never changetry to show another way but you stayin' in the dope gameNow tell me what's a mother to dobein' real don't appeal to the brother in youYou gotta operate the easy way"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy waysellin' crack to the kid. " I gotta get paid,"Well hey, well that's the way it is

- 2pac, Changes