Frankly Speaking… By A.A. Fenty
So why this “American” bias today? Partly because last year at this time most Guyanese were basking in the aftermath of Barack Obama’s victory in the US Presidential elections.
(Because “White America” defines American people’s race and ethnicity, Obama, a product of a Caucasian – African union, is deemed “Black” – the “first African American” President of the USA. Okay, readers know of my life-long grouse with that but I’ve let it rest. After all I’m told that “White America: has also decided that a person born, of, say a White/Caucasian mother and a Native American/Amerindian father is “Native American”.
“Don’t ever dilute the White” seems to be the mantra of the White American Establishment – and meekly accepted by so many.
So we have our first Mixed Race President of the still mighty, but challenged USA. For you who have not had the time to check the American media, I relay to you some happenings over here. Happenings directly – or obliquely – related to Obama’s presidency, now that his election honeymoon is obviously over. Sometimes, I’ll attempt to make a link between some American issues and today’s Guyana. And yes, I’ll venture my own enquiries – and opinions.
Obama’s major issues:
Your reading and your TV will indicate four major current issues – and their spin-offs – which command President Obama’s attention every day: The war in Afghanistan, his health reform programme (now in the US Senate), the domestic economic situation and unemployment/loss of jobs. (Not necessarily in that order).
On Tuesday night the American President, facing what could be his personal Vietnam in the unique terrain of Afghanistan, delivered some vital decisions of his Afghan strategy.
They include: a 30,000 troop surge and a specific exit strategy time frame.
Of course the implications abound: how democratic and effective is Afghan President Karzai? Will the “Allies” send significant troops to assist Obama’s boys and girls? (I often wonder where these 30,000 additional American troops are to be found. From other bases and from the White, Afro and Hispanic poor, I’m told).
The cost of this particular war, added to Iraq, will be “taxing” the American economy even more. How then can the US aid countries like our poor Guyana? Further, unless the American military is allowed to be very “extreme”, insurgencies amongst tribes governed by a suspect regime are not really “winnable”.
Obama’s Health Care Reforms are now in the Senate where the Bill’s Democrats are not all rallying around it at my time of writing. But already, American’s poor and unemployed are feeling the effects of some greedy Insurance Companies’ withdrawals and costly premiums. Besides the unemployment that keeps Americans at home and unproductive, the Obama resolve to reform his country’s national health care, is the most sensitive domestic issue in decades. The idea, of course, is to make health care and consequent insurance safety-nets, available and affordable. I predict it will succeed, if even with minor Republican amendments.
America’s deficit is now in the trillions. Internally, all the bailouts and the stimulus packages have not yet generated jobs or inspired greedy banks to lend needy businesses the funding they need to survive, then strive – to employ. Like the USA or not, it is important to all around the planet that America gets on its financial feet soon.
One terror-related discussion
One issue that caught my attention, in terms of the post-911 terroristic catastrophe in Manhattan, is Obama’s agreement to try a self-confessed Sheikh and his co-defendants in a Federal criminal court in New York, instead of in a military forum.
Much comment has been forthcoming. A federal courtroom trial means that the self-avowed terrorists get all the legal rights ordinary American citizens are entitled to – a jury of “peers”, opportunity to lambaste a past administration and obvious allegations of tainted evidence against them. The uncaring defendants had even agreed to plead guilty before a military tribunal. The US Attorney-General-and his President-are confident that the New York proceedings will favour the government-and the people’s – case.
Former military men, especially, are arguing that those terrorists, who declared war on US civilians at home, should never enjoy the rights and liberties which Americans die to protect. Literally, the jury is still out on this one.
Climate change challenges
Our Guyanese President Jagdeo must know the new journalist-President of the Maldives, those islands just south of the Indian sub-continent. Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed is a Climate Change advocate in a hurry. He is depending on the vital Copenhagen Climate – Change – Global – Warming – Forest Preservation summit to literally “bail out” his country. The islands of the Maldives, you see, will be submerged out of existence in a few decades – if not earlier – unless funding is found to build massive sea-defences and to implement other “adaptation mechanisms” if the Maldives are to survive.
President Nasheed, however, knows that America does not place climate change on its list of priorities, even though President Obama will be in Copenhagen. Obama has some targets for carbon emissions but can’t assist the giant polluter China who has actually asked for American assistance in this matter.
Meanwhile, President Nasheed promotes democracy and good governance whenever international funding is given to vulnerable states to confront imminent climate change catastrophes. I’m sure our own President agrees. Right?
More considerations…
1) The Suddie Mortuary and its freezer, the dumping of dead bodies, the disgraceful Georgetown Le Repentir Cemetery with its forest and fires. Oh, what awaits our Guyanese dead. Just before they die, the funeral-home touts, and hospital collaborators battle for their bodies as death beckons. After burial ghouls try to steal caskets and the steel in tombs or their fences. Misery in life and death? No dignity left!
2) Read about the Washington couple who crashed President Obama’s first State Dinner at the White House? Humour aside, Frankly Speaking, some heads must roll over this lapse.
3) The Fort Hood Major Hasan who executed US soldiers was the second terrorist friendly Islamist to occupy sensitive positions in the US Military. A Fort Bragg sergeant-instructor Ali Mohammed was allowed to work for America’s security agencies whilst being a Bin Laden mole!
4) Tingu Mingu, John Brown, Caesar Agustus, ex-gdf officer, Ankoko, Nitti-gritti, Chuck, Yarrowdam, Amen-ra, Navyseal, Evileyes, Mr West Bank, Deze tante, Blacksage, Mr West Bank, Sunnaboy – these are just a few of the “Disaporic” Guyanese bloggers who offer caustic comments on every issue under the Guyanese sun. Other Stabroek News correspondents have offered comments on the bloggers themselves. I’ll return to their role. Soon!
5) Lovely insightful piece, “Familiar, yet foreign” by our Diaspora academic Ms Nalini Mohabir, good, analytical, provocative stuff, Miss.
`Til next week!!
Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com
