dps musings

 Picture from www.barackobama.com 

A must read or re-read. A man who was influenced by his mother’s teachings and beliefs, his grandparents support, his life experiences; enduring relations, hardship, struggle and the development of multicultural relationships in a time when segregation and racism were prevalent. Yet over time he has the ability to believe in all mankind, whatever their status.  A child born in the 60’s, a white American mother and a black Kenyan father, who he hardly knew. Nevertheless, in time Barack would discover who his father was and the lasting legacy he had created in his own country, both positive and negative, but it is not until after his father’s death are the questions he has been asking himself answered, as he decides to visit family in Kenya, akin to a pilgrimage for Barack.  

Sometimes his memories are laboured, and hindsight is a wonderful thing as you write your memior, but otherwise a fascinating read. Some of the rhetoric used here is clearly part of his campaign today! Change, all working together! Obama projects a society in change, which has positive and negative connotations both in terms of working together, hope for a better future, yet fading hope in some quarters. His personal belief that we all have qualities to offer, but it comes down to whether we act to use it for the better good of all has allowed him to come this far, I think. A man of many facets, not always wanting to speak out, initially, but rather a man who sits back, waits, listens, calculates and then he acts! He himself has experienced a missing parent and the anger and frustration one feels when a family member dies before all the questions are answered or we’ve said what we needed to say. Yet his determination and emptiness was sometimes the drive to push for more, he realises what he seeks. 

Surely his experiences mean he can be realistic about what we can achieve individually or collectively. Although having come this far he can ask, what is your excuse to do nothing to help move the country forward? He is now in a position to address what those before him have done and whilst it is likely those ahead of him will have to do the same, less hopes it’s on a smaller scale and he will have a lasting legacy, in many positive ways. As often society is quick to notice and remember the negatives first.

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