| Barack Obama: President of Tolerance |
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Wednesday, 12 November 2008 12:12
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 I really like this Zapiro cartoon when I first saw it. It not only screamed tolerance to me, but gave me a glimmer of hope for the global community. As seen in the cartoon, Barack Obama had an African father, an American mother, and an Asian upbringing. He also has a Middle Eastern middle name, which is Hussein. This must have taught him about different people and their backgrounds. Having spent time with a myraid of people from various races and creeds, he must have learned extensively and as a result gained a certain amount of tolerance towards these different people. As newly-elected President of probably one of the supepowers of the world, it is inspiring and casts some hope to the already distressed world filled with hatred for one another. I can only hope that Barack Obama unifies the citizens of the world into a beautiful egalitarian society that I have only witnessed in my dreams... or at least eradicates some of the hatred and intolerance. I think South Africa can learn a lot from Barack Obama. With the wounds of apartheid still healing, I think people need to learn and practise the concept of tolerance. It is the antidote for racism and what will ultimately be a contributing factor in saving the world from its social demise. Comments (8)
  written by The Source, November 12, 2008
The wounds of Apartheid will not heal in our life time, and not as long as the ANC keeps stuffing it down out throats
written by Traysee, November 12, 2008
I do understand your point Source, but don't you think that tolerance is a step forward though?
written by The Pianist, November 12, 2008
I think guilt and hate speech against people should stop. People hate me for being white, but i'm actually a nice person. That is how healing will happen. Blaming poverty on the past needs to stop and people need to step forward and start healing our nation!
written by The Source, November 12, 2008
What I mean by my comment is that the current wounds in SA are still too fresh to truly move on. My kid who are 6 and 3 might be a generation that is equal because they don't have that emotional connection to the past.
The thing about tolerance is that you need to draw a line somewhere. This is mostly a moral line. In effect tolerance is only as effective as your moral values allow you to be. I do not for one moment perceive Obama as much a tolerant man, more a moral one. His family situation and world travels only speaks of a man who has experienced various cultures. That exposure is what formed his moral values and that is what made him President. He was able to project his vision for America based on those values. America was tolerant toward Bush, I think they were fed up with their own tolerance and this is why Obama appealed to them
written by Traysee, November 12, 2008
I appreciate your opinion, Source.
However, I feel there is a degree of tolerance in Obama. He is so multi-racial in his background and in his own race. That just tells me he is.
written by Dissol, November 12, 2008
I am much happier having a US president that has some knowledge of the world outside of the States. Most US citizens do not own a pa*sport, or even leave their home state during their lifetime. Bush (even as the son of a former president) had only ever been out of the country once (to Mexico!) before he took office. Palin only applied for her own pa*sport in 2006. I am optimistic about the new president...he can talk the talk (which the Republicans surely could not even do), but now we wait to see if he can walk the walk...
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