Dear Editor,
“While the younger generation jumped up and down and cheered and shouted, the members of the older generation were overcome by deeper emotions…” I could not help wondering if the media people were already taking the dust covers off the American mid-’70s TV mini-series about the uprooting of people from Africa to be sold and used as slaves in America − Roots by Alex Haley. The screening of this masterpiece should be of interest to the under-30 generation. One of my (white) colleagues told me, at the time, that throughout the screening “there was not a dry eye in the house” in her family of six.
The categories mentioned in your editorial as helping Barack Obama to victory were African-Americans, Hispanics and young whites. Let us not overlook the many, many women who batted initially for Hillary Clinton but switched loyalties at a later stage. Women, many of them first-time voters, came out in droves. I was impressed with the 100+ year old lady in a wheelchair: she was so ‘with it.’
A further quote from the editorial: “It must hardly seem believable that the marches from Selma to Montgomery have finally ended in Pennsylvania Avenue. When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a bus to a white man – the catalyst of the civil rights
struggle – the year was 1955…” I remember it well, and I think the following line sums it for me: “Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. Barack ran so our children can fly.”
Barack and Michelle Obama, the scintillating couple, will leave their mark on US presidential life. He is a natural leader and will be a very strong and determined head of state; his wife will be the same in the domestic sphere, her requests sometimes taking the staff by surprise. They will both expect total commitment from those chosen to help them.
At the same time, much is expected of the Obamas. Let us hope this hard-working couple live up to expectations.
Incidentally, I strongly agree with both letter-writers in your issue of November 7 about mothers being able to rear youngsters singlehandedly, to be successful in life. A mother makes a home. In her absence, a caring, loving female relative should be able to perform this function. Barack Obama is a splendid example of supportive female parenting and grand-parenting.
Yours faithfully,
Geralda Dennison
