Change

There are blog pages and write-ups aplenty congratulating America on electing its first African American president. Pundits spend hours on the TV and gallons of ink on the page dissecting everything and anything to absolutely nothing - from the shifting demographic of the American population... to the irrelevancy of the "Bradley Effect". Everything related to the campaign is analysed-digested-regurgitated-and-reanalysed again: from the would've-n-could've of the McCain/Palin ticket... to the "could it be possible" resuscitation of an embattled and rattled GOP... to the "what-type-of-puppy" will move into the White House with the Obama kids come January next year.

Yes admittedly it is all a little mad, but the riverman~~~ believes that having gone through the despondency of the last 8 years, the world fairly deserves to happily go Obama-crazy for a little while. The man has come to symbolise so much of what the world around America hopes America to be.

I remember as I type out this post how as the state-by-state results came in on election night, my finger-nails correspondingly grew shorter and shorter. When Ohio's results came in, my mobile phone started ringing. I picked it up and the voice of an obviously over-caffeinated friend from London blurted out anxiously, "What do you think? Has he won?".

The texts and calls came fast and furious after Virginia's results slammed home. Then an almost dreamlike sequence of events followed: the exuberant roar of the crowd from Times Square; the flourished wave of the stars and stripes over the sea of people in Chicago's Grant Park; the close-up of tears streaming down Rev. Jessee Jackson's face; the wild screams of 'Yes we did!" from the students from George Washington University; people, both white and black and every colour in between hugging each other on the streets of Harlem; the choked-up speechlessness of some of the anchors on CNN and MSNBC... and all the while those clear fluorescent words "PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA" flashing out from the alert titles on every news network.

As the world waited for the future 44th President of the United States to get on stage for his acceptance speech, the news channel I was watching put on a recording of that historic speech by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963, as he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was hard not to get choked up as his words rang out: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."".

From the hopeful optimism and faith of a Baptist minister from Atlanta, Georgia in 1963 to an acceptance speech by an African American president-elect in 2008... America, you have come a long way!

Just to illustrate, let's go back in time...

On April 16, 1963, a 22 year-old man dressed in worn out denims walked onto a stage in Gerde's Folk City in the West Village with his folk guitar and harmonica. As the mumble of the crowd around him fell into whisper, he strummed into the air what was probably one of the most iconic songs of the 60's civil rights movement. The melody was inspired by an old Negro spiritual. The lyric was a plea made on behalf of generations of people denied a voice. How many roads must a man walk down, before they call him a man How many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand How many times must the cannonballs fly, before they are forever banned.*The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.* How many years must a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea. How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free. How many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just doesn't see. How many times must a man look up, before he can see the sky. How many years must one man have, before he can hear people cry. How many deaths will it take till he knows, that too many people have died.

Today when I listen to Bob Dylan's immortal "Blowing in the wind" I still find it extraordinary that a song that stabs so truthfully into the pain and injustice in racism came from a white man. And yet, why indeed should this be remarkable? Truth is colour-blind... and the questions asked in that song demand and just as surely provoke a truthful answer.

On October 8, 1963, an American Gospel, R&B and Soul singer named Sam Cooke and his band tried to register at a "whites only" motel in Shreveport, Louisiana. They were summarily arrested for disturbing the peace. Sam had heard Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" a number of months before, and had been so impressed that after the incident at Shreveport, that he pushed himself out of apathy and penned the words of another immortal song called "A change is gonna come".

Within the stirring heartbeat of Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind", was a powerful question: "How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free?". Sam Cooke responded to Dylan's question in his song "A change is gonna come", by insisting that even while change had been "a long, long time coming", nevertheless change would be inevitable in the end. Despite the steadfast hope that "change" would eventually come, the weariness of waiting for what seemed to take forever to be granted is evident in his words.

I was born by the river in a little tent. Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since. It's been a long, a long time coming. But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will. It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will. I go to the movie and I go downtown. Somebody keep telling me don't hang around. It's been a long, a long time coming. But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will. Then I go to my brother, And I say brother help me please. But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees. There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long. But now I think I'm able to carry on. It's been a long, a long time coming. But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will...

Both "Blowing in the Wind" and "A change is gonna come" constituted and began an extraordinary form of social dialogue via music with regards to race relations in America. Black American musicians from Otis Redding to Aretha Franklin to Al Green to Seal have steadily interpreted and reinterpreted Sam Cooke's response to Dylan's question for each new generation. And so, this indefatigable dialogue has continued by way of tentative question to hopeful answer from 1963 up to the present.

And so from 1963 Reader, we come to 2008.

On November 4, 2008, close to midnight, Barack Obama stood on the stage facing a 200,000 strong crowd in Chicago, and with a clear voice declared emphatically that "It's been a long time coming, but tonight,... change has come to America". Reader, as I listened to these words, a chill literally ran up my spine. The words that Barack Obama shouted into the night air on the 4th of November were a mirror of Sam Cooke's original words in 1963, but this time voiced with an air of decisiveness, certainty and finality. This was a jubilant shout of victory and no longer a weary prayer. Gone was that tinge of desperation... that hunger half dowsed in melancholy. Almost 45 years later, the world saw a unified America... white and black, shoulder to shoulder and with both sides of the civil rights dialogue finally responding in concert to the question that had been insistently blowing in the wind, from that evening in Gerde's Folk City in 1963 to the present day.

And as I watched the crowds chant "Yes We Can!" into the early hours of the morning after, the riverman~~~ believes, those three simple words, whether indirectly or purposefully, were that long awaited final triumphant reply to the question Dylan asked so long ago.

Well done America, and congratulations!

~~~

Vice President Sarah Palin - Pure Pa(in)lin-Speak

It's gotta be that fantastic crisp moose-flavoured air in Alaska that she's been brought up in, but Vice-A-Heartbeat-Away-President-Candidate Palin is a woman with spunk, and she never gives in. Nope... and say it ain't so Joe! Not even when the going gets down-right dirty... and it's been dirty all right this last week or so hiding out in Fox TV's bunkers behind an army of Joe-Six-Packs and avoiding them gawd-awful Katie Couric liberals. Poor thang! Betcha that's been hard!

So let's give Governor Palin one more chance shall we Reader? Any woman who wears a pair of pumps the way she does deserves another opportunity "to walk the walk and not just talk the talk". The riverman~~~ decided this week to lower the bar below the ground and invite Governor Palin to submit all her possible answers to the most important questions she has ever been asked by the press and in the televised debates. Just one... and I repeat ONE of these answers that Governor Palin submits here needs to hit the mark in order for her to pass the test. Yes, the riverman~~~ believes in "lifelines". The world will probably need one if Governor Palin makes it to the White House.

Without any further to-do... Take it away Sarah!!!


Question: All-righty Govenor Palin, how will you fix the economy?

Two possible Pa(in)lin answers:

(a) Our economy and putting it back on the verbiage that Senator McCain chose to use them. It's about creating jobs under the umbrella of job creation. So we have got to put the pressure on Iran and we have got to get people to understand what he's been talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to do this with you. I believe that America has to be considered also. But again, it's got to have a good guy who is saying that. Now, one who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including the United States of America, where... where do they go? It's Alaska.

(b) The economy and putting it back on the right reasons and serving for the right reasons and serving for the other party. Trying to get a more democratic nation with democratic ideals. That's why we have got to flow into our domestic markets first. As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that I have the confidence in that Washington establishment, where, yeah, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state these last couple of weeks... it has been overwhelming to me who the good guys are. Through reform, absolutely. Look at the end of the United States of America, where where do they go? It's Alaska.

Let's give you another lifeline Governor. Let's get this very clear - what DO you mean?

(c) Yes Charlie! Our economy and putting it back on the side of the earth. Now, one who would seek to wipe them off the face of the solution to the problems on Wall Street. Well, it was unfortunate. That manifestation that we saw - Charlie - with that invasion of Georgia shows us some steps backwards that Russia has recently taken away from the race toward a more coordinated and a much more stringent oversight regime government can play a very, very appropriate role in the trade sector today... we've got to be considered also. But Charlie - again, it's got to get people to understand that the people of America are not noticing that there are mistakes made. But we're mavericks.

Let's really get to heart of the issue. What is your foreign policy experience?

Two possible Pa(in)lin-esque rejoinders:

(a) Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the oil and gas development in our state to produce more for the United States of America, where... where do they go? It's Alaska. It's rearing it's head. It's just right over the border. It is obvious to me who the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including the United States. I want you to not lose sight of the status-quo, the politics as usual and somebody's big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunity to meet heads of state and I can see Russia from...

(b) Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right next to our state. He's got the track record of the United States. I want to do ... and... and serving for the other party. Trying to get that gas line built, so pray for that. I see the collapse that we're seeing today, you know that something is broken and John McCain had pushed for, more troops? A counterinsurgency strategy?" And he also showed great appreciation for what America needs today. I'll try to destroy not only our democracy, but communities like the community of New York.

Errr... I see...! Would you like one more try Sarah?

(c) Alaska - that we can show is economic sanctions perhaps could be more comfortable and certainly taking shots from the race toward a more coordinated oversight regime government can play a very, very important .... when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space .... of the message that Americans are getting sick and tired of a process that's not allowing that process of that progress to be found here. Consumers and those who are hell bent on destroying our nation.

Question: What is the role of the US in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Two Pa(in)ful responses:

(a) Iraq - that John McCain had pushed for, more troops? A counterinsurgency strategy?" And he said, "yes." And he said, "yes." And he said, "yes." And he also showed great appreciation for what America and American troops are providing in his country. But no, the Pakistani people also, they... they want freedom. They want democratic values and tolerance and freedom. I see the United States, in my world, those are the good guys. Through reform, absolutely. Look at the oversight as people are trusting these companies with their insurance policies, and construction bonds, and everything else. When we see right now in Washington - it has got to be considered also.

(b) Afghanistan will lead to war and it doesn't have to stand for that. I believe that they, too, want to do with foreign policy and national security issues. Let me speak specifically about a credential ... but that John McCain... that I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do this with you. I believe that - what Congress is going to take everybody working together on this, and not choosing a real easy path where he could be implemented if things weren't gonna go right. I thought yes, right off the face of the status-quo, going with the energy source that is part of the United States of America, where where do they go? It's Alaska!

I would ask you to try and answer the question Governor. What Exactly DO you mean? One last time for the folks at home!

(c) Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to further security of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would seek to protect the good guys ... they are in this nation at this time. It is from Alaska that we work with our allies to help us do that in this nation at this time. People are getting into crisis mode here. I think if you go back and look at that as more opportunity. John McCain... He's also known as the solution or not. You know, it's going to have nuclear weapons, what can we do - it's very important to us and they do not like the community of New York.

Question: Why should the US elect Senator McCain?

Two Pal(a)in-speak explanations:

(a) McCain has a great plan to get a more democratic nation with democratic ideals that are democratic. That's why we have been put in where it is in this case, for Georgia. The support that we send those out to make sure that an eye on Russia and Putin and some of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War, but economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, again, counting on our allies to help us ... Diplomatic pressure. We need to pursue those and we need to reform government. We have got to get that gas line built, so pray for that. It is obvious to me... that confirmation of the people. It's a nice thing about him, too - is he is not asking me or anybody else to check our opinions at the door. He wants that healthy deliberation and debate with it. John McCain and I - We're mavericks.

(b) John McCain and I have not and I think it was unfortunate. That manifestation that we work together on this, and not choosing a real easy path where he could be implemented if things weren't gonna go right. I thought yes, right off the bat. When he offered me the position, as his running mate. No, I've worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. We got to put the pressure on Iran and we have got to be a multi-faceted solution that has to exercise all options out there on the world. Sorry Sarah! I just got lost in that blizzard of bullets. Just to make absolutely sure... ?

(c) McCain chose to use them. So we have been and mistakes made. And with new leadership, and that's the beauty of American elections, of course, and democracy, is with new leadership comes opportunity to change, and who's actually done it? That's something that John McCain has done, that has been lack... I believe, here at the door. He wants that healthy deliberation and debate with it. Oh... and just in case you didn't hear it before: MAVERICK!

Good night and Good Luck... and God bless America!

BTW - watch the Youtube entries above and below - betchya-all love em! ________________________________________________________

(All art by Zina Saunders http://www.drawger.com/zinasaunders/ and lots of thanks to http://www.interviewpalin.com/!)
~~~