Is America ready for a black president?
- 17 Jan 07, 11:06 AM
It's Ruth on the blog (is that a better phrase, James?) today and here are the topics we're discussing on the show.
Barack Obama is the Democrats' great hope for the next president, speaking to thronging crowds wherever he goes. We're asking today is America ready for a black president?
Israeli army chief Lt Gen Dan Halutz . In his resignation letter he said "there is no army as moral as the IDF (Israel Defence Force)" - what do you think?
Obama's father is Kenyan, so could he bring a new dialogue with Africa or is he U.S - centric Should we be so hung up at all on the fact he's black?
Resignation of Israeli army chief
David and Hashit backed this one to make it. Following the resignation of Israeli army chief Lt Gen Dan Halutz was this summer's war with Lebanon a big mistake? How did it affect you?
And what will happen now? Should Olmert resign? Is the Israeli military losing the respect it once had? Did you serve in this war?
We'd like to hear from you. The details are on the right >>>>>>>
Muhammed Ali is 65 today and may not live to 70. What does this living legend mean to you? Has his reputation been sanitized so much we forget how radical he was? Did you ever see Ali fight?
And the ones that didn't make it...
James also suggests discussing the German proposals to ban all swastikas even those used in the Hindu tradition of peace symbols.
Christiane, who is from Germany is keen on discussing this also. She also suggests German chancellor Angela Merkel's advocacy of a European constitution. Do we need one? Do you think it would fit in with the individual needs of particular countries? Is it just more E.U. interference?
The Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says talks with Eta were a mistake. Can you ever negotiate with terrorists or should you? It has seemed to work with the IRA in Northern Ireland, but what about groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas that were/are considered as terrorists? It is simply practical to negotiate?
Hong Kong is banning all pregnant Chinese women from February. Women can avoid the one child rule by bearing their child in HK and the child will benefit from improved healthcare and schooling as a HK resident.
A comment on this blog says they 'bring in disease'. Is this action discriminatory against mainland women?
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I dont think America are ready for a black president, but I think it would be the greatest thing that could happen to their country.
I think a woman president in office will be more likely before a black president unfortunately.
Would also like to say... Good Work Ruth!
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NO I DONT THINK SO
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The question should be rephrased "Is America Ready for A Political Opening". There have been African-American Candidates for President, the reason they were never noticed because most of them were Socialist Party Candidates [although Angela Davis was Communist Party Candidate in 1968] and they were never noticed [and when noticed they never practiced what they preached].
It is about time to discard Right and Left and vote for a change such as the Libertarians or Greens who care more for America than the Outdated Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, or Communists.
Right now in Florida, people are demonstrating for Insurance Reform. Florida is one of the few states where the Insurance Charges more than what the average salary can afford. In return, in times of trouble we are deserted. I know. I was there during Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
Last but not least, Oscar Haza [in his Daily Nightly Programme on America Teve "A Mano Limpia" [Transparent Hands]] interviewed gastroenterologists and politicians about the future of Cuba and the three botched operations. Regardless, it is doubtful [politics aside] that a person with the extent of gastrointestinal problems and surgery would return to work. Every Human Body has a limit.
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Well, before deciding maybe America should investigate on the web just who he is and what he stands for.
Some prominent Americans are WAY too concerned about firsts:
first female house speaker
first 'black' president, etc, etc.
What they SHOULD be concerned about is getting back on the right track and being concerned with who's going to run the country well. There are those like that. They are usually shouted down by the stupid ones.
By the way, MANY of us are against this idea of a one world. We'd rather respect other nation's sovereignty; and have ours respected as well.
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Some fifteen years ago, Colin Powell, leader of American military forces and war hero, was seriously proposed as a Presidential candidate but the nomination did not, finally, take off. Mr. Powell's parents had immigrated form the Caribbean. Barack Obama has more political weight behind him and very considerable media clout. He too, given his parentage, is not a multi-generational African American, at least two of whom thus far have been elected Governors of states (Virginia and Massachusetts). Election to the Presidency will signal the full arrival of the African American in the land to which his ancestors were forcibly brought some centuries ago.
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Is America ready for a black president? We don't really know. But it would be far more ready for a President Colin Powell or even a President Dr. Condalezza Rice than it is for a President Barak Obama. Those are people we have come to know and trust. Mr. Obama doesn't even have well defined positions on major issues of concern to most Americans except his position on the war in Iraq and that is not enough. In fact this man is not really ready himeself to be president being too inexperienced and too unknown. He's also likely much too liberal for the mainstream whatever the left wing of the Democratic Party and the media would like to think. In my view, he would be unelectable. Maybe in 2012 or 2016 but not in 2008. If he makes a serious attempt now and fails, that could reduce his chances later on.
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Should Children Have The Right To Vote?
There was a story on BBC World News yesterday about pending German legislation that would allow children the right to vote.
My 11 year old thinks this is a great idea and has long complained that in the States the voting age is 18.
We think this would be a great topic for a future program.
Melanie (and Adam) who listen to WHYS on WCPN Cleveland, Ohio - USA
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