Shaken, not Stirred
mromero@theguidon.com
It’s safe to say our generation has never been as elated about any other national or international political event. An event Americans, and the world, thought would never happen in our lifetime actually happened. The world watched in awe as the United States of America elected their first ever African – American President in Barack Obama.
The elections were of the US alone yet; the world shared the spirit of the euphoric fever that Obama’s victory brought. In Kenya, mothers named their newborns Barack, Obama, or even Michelle. The Philippines, on the other hand, participated in automated mock elections hosted by the US embassy in some parts of the country. Blogs, status messages, and shout outs were filled with raves about Obama’s win, as if it were our own.
From the election primaries to the general campaign, from the concession speech of John McCain to the victory speech of President – elect Barack Obama, we were hooked to our screens or our copies of Time and Newsweek. Mass media and technology documented the events and connected people all over the world to be able to relate to this historic event.
Barack Obama’s omnipresence thanks to mass media technology was probably what made him edge out John McCain. In fact, he won the youth vote because of it. His campaign videos were all over YouTube and Facebook. Maybe what appealed to the youth was what his new kind of politics could bring to the table – that he’d be more open to the public than any other president has before him. In fact, when he finally becomes the president, he plans to do a weekly nation address on YouTube.
He also text messages and emails with his much-loved Blackberry. He is considered by most as a connected and tech savvy politician. Analysts have said that he established grassroots and youth-roots by funding his campaign through technology.
Our own elections are approximately a year and a half away. Technology can be a driving force if put to good use. Fortunately for us, we may experience the automation of elections come 2010. An automated system of elections could ensure that the elected president will have won. Hours after the polls have closed, broadcast networks were able to project Barack Obama as the President compared to our weeks or even a month of figuring out who the president would be.
From day one, when Barack Obama announced that he would be running for office, I couldn’t help but imagine the possibility that an African – American President could in fact be a reality. In his victory speech, he said that his victory is not the change that the Americans have been looking for. His victory is the chance for them, as a country, to make the change. He lived the dream that a lot of Americans have been hoping for.
If we have the same avenues and driving force as the Americans have in maybe we could bank on the chance for the Philippines to change. But, maybe we have. Maybe it’s just a matter of being that chance to make the change, if we all vote. The ideology of a Barack Obama can happen in the Philippines. Yes we can.
